Annual Farm Toy Show Feb. 7-8

Fans of farm equipment, toys and miniatures will soon be headed back to The Shoals.

The seventh annual Northwest Alabama Farm Toy Show will be held at the Clarion Inn at 4900 Hatch Boulevard in Sheffield on Feb. 7-8.

The show will run from 4-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.

Cost of admission is $3, while children 12 and under get in free.

According to show director Josh Aycock, the event benefits Deshler High School Future Farmers of America (FFA).

“This is a fun event,” Aycock said. “We see everything from Hot Wheels size up to pedal tractors. We will have around 25-30 vendors and 120 tables of stuff to look at.”

Aycock said vendors are typically contacted around October, and 1,000 postcards were sent out to previous toy show visitors inviting them back.

He said all of the allotted spaces for vendors are full.

“We use the ballroom, the lobby, the hallway and even the computer room. We maximize the space,” he said. “It’s a good problem to have.”

Along with the toy show, there will also be 10 farm displays, miniature replicas of farms, in a contest.

There will also be a demonstration of some remote-controlled equipment in the lobby.

“We are hoping to have around 1,000 visitors across the weekend,” Aycock said. “We are opening up earlier on Friday to give people more time to come in. My family helps me out with the show, and some of our visitors come and see us each year. It’s almost like an annual reunion. About 85% of our vendors are the same each year, but we get a few new ones each time.”

Though potential winter weather is a possibility each year, with no make-up date available, Aycock said the event is a lot easier to plan and put together seven years in as opposed to when the toy show was just starting out.

“Now that we have our name out there, the show is on people’s calendar already,” he said. “The first year for any event is always the toughest. After you get through the first two or so, it gets easier.”

For more information, visit the Northwest Alabama Farm Toy Show Facebook page or contact 256-320-7490 or email [email protected].