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Farm toy show raises Madison-Plains scholarship money
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 A customer talks to Glenn Groves (right), one of 23 dealers at the 2010 Madison-Plains Young Farmers farm toy show held March 7.
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(Posted March 9, 2010)
The Madison-Plains Young Farmers hosted their annual toy show on March 7.
Twenty-three toy dealers and collectors set up shop to sell new and used farm- and construction-related toys. They packed the high school gym, using 57 tables to display their collections. Those numbers are up by three dealers and three tables over last year.
“Our attendance was higher this year. We had 215 in attendance and saw a majority leave with several bags of toys,” reported Gary Hoffman, Madison-Plains ag teacher and FFA advisor. “Several toy dealers commented that they were pleased with their sales and would be back next year. The weather was not a factor this year as it was 50 degrees and sunny.”
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 All sorts of farm- and construction-themed toys were up for sale at the show.
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 Blake Bricker, son of local resident Andy Bricker, won the pedal tractor in a raffle.
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Twenty-five FFA students volunteered at the show, helping with set-up and tear-down, cleaning, unloading and loading toys, selling concessions, selling pedal tractor raffle tickets, handing out door prizes and collecting admissions.
Nine students donated items for the concession stand to cut down on expenses. JD Equipment, Farm Credit Services (Elizabeth Long), and Mayer Farm Equipment sponsored door prizes, the pedal tractor raffle, and other donations. Blake Bricker, son of London resident and former Madison-Plains FFA member, Andy Bricker, won the pedal tractor.
“This year was a little more successful than last year as we made enough profit to cover the amount that we are going to pay out in scholarships this year,” Hoffman said. “We have a scholarship account and can withdraw scholarship funds from it if necessary. However, now is not the time to be withdrawing money from mutual funds.”
The toy show raises money for the Bob Phillips FFA Scholarship, which awards $1,500 to $2,000 to senior Madison-Plains FFA members who were actively involved in FFA and their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. The scholarship is named for the agriculture education advisor who chartered the Madison South FFA chapter, now known as the Madison-Plains FFA.
In the past, up to three members split the scholarship money each year. Over the past 13 years, the Young Farmers group has paid out almost $27,000 in scholarships.
Next year’s toy show is set for March 13.
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 Madison-Plains FFA member WInston Smith (left) talks to a customer from the Greenville FFA chapter.
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