Published: January 10, 2009 10:47 pm         

Millions of dollars in new tractors must make room for the smaller kind

While the big boys checked out the newest and biggest farm toys at Saturday’s KNID Agrifest, the little boys did a little of their own corralling and loading with much smaller equipment.

Thanks to Jerry Sims, The Happy Toy Maker, and Kyle Kroll, a Breckinridge teen, the youngest attendees didn’t get bored after the newness wore off of millions of dollars in new farm equipment.

Kroll, 16, said he learned how to construct his own toy tractors and tractor trailers from his dad, using scrap metal lying around the shop. His replicas of Big Bud, the world’s largest tractor, and a Peterbilt 359 are made from metal pipe, bolt heads and roller skate wheels.

“I like trucks,” Kroll said, showing off the two he brought to Agrifest to show pa-trons. “I’d like to sell ’em.”

Kroll said his toys were tough enough for children to enjoy. He said he met Sims just this weekend and the two talked about the toy business.

Sims’ runs his business from his home in Happy, Texas, and at times nearly 10 toddlers and children pretended to corral cattle and horses, load pens and dump dirt while their parents strolled through Agrifest.

Sims said he first constructed the toys made of steel rods for his sons, now ages 11 and 13. It became his full-time business after a serious health scare last summer. His sons now are old enough to help their dad build toys for others. They can run the band saw and cut out metal and they also can run the computerized plasma torch to personalize the toys. For information on Sims’ toys, visit www.thehappytoy maker.com.

Late Saturday, Ryan Taylor, 3, was opening chutes and hooking up trailers as his mother, Sheila, and baby sister, Rebecca, watched.

“It’s surprising how much attention they pay to what’s going on,” said Sheila Taylor.

Taylor said her husband, Tim, was browsing while Ryan played with the toys. She said it takes a special toy to hold her boy’s attention for an extended time.

Organizers said late Saturday more than 45,000 guests had visited the 13th annual KNID Agrifest in its two-day run. Heidi Schultz, the show’s coordinator, said the event was a success.

“We had a great year,” Schultz said. “We expected great things. We had great weather and great vendors and plenty for people to see.”

Schultz said two young men won cash during the FFA speech contest. Benjamen Hadgens, a member of the Burlington FFA chapter, won a $1,500 first-place prize. Ryan Ball, a member of Chisholm’s FFA program, won $1,000 for second. The contest was sponsored by KNID, Fastline Publications, Oklahoma Dodge Dealers and Monsanto.