National Farm Toy Hall of Fame inductees to be honored at event

DYERSVILLE, Iowa — The National Farm Toy Museum will honor its 2012 National Farm Toy Hall of Fame inductees in a ceremony Nov. 1 kicking off events for Toy Farmer’s National Farm Toy Show.

The 2012 honorees join a group of 37 others, beginning with Fred and Gertrude Ertl and Claire and Cathy Scheibe.

Purpose

The purpose of the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame is to recognize those people who have given of their time and talents to the forwarding of the farm toy hobby. For their dedication to the farm toy hobby, Charley Baird and Ralph and Joanne Jolley will be inducted this year into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame.

T. Charles Baird, from Beaver Falls, Pa., has been involved in the farm toy hobby for a lifetime. T. Charles Baird began collecting with the tractors he received as a youngster. Later in life he multiplied his collection with pieces he bought for himself during frequent stops at dealerships as a semi-driver.

As a well-traveled toy vendor, and custom combine builder, Baird gained experience and a local following. With encouragement from area friends and family support Baird was responsible for bringing the hobby to the eastern states surrounding Pennsylvania by starting the Beaver Falls Toy Show in 1980.

Ralph and Joanne Jolley, from Meaford, Ontario, Canada, both have a background on the farm. Jolley’s Farm Toys has become one of the most well-known Canadian retailers for farm toys. The Jolley’s had a knack for business. Ralph appreciates the knowledgeable collectors with whom he attended shows and who taught him about the hobby.

Background

The National Farm Toy Museum, houses the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame including memorabilia and representative farm toys of past nominees. A not-for-profit 501(c)(3), the museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of agriculture through farm toy collecting.

The National Farm Toy Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. More information about the National Farm Toy Museum is available at www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com or by calling 563-875-2727.