Toy Show a long-standing tradition

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Annual Farm Toy Show and Auction has throughout the years highlighted the longevity of the school district’s FFA program; it celebrated its 20th year on Saturday, March 19, in the Stissing Mountain High School gymnasium.The typical toy show event covers a lot of territory, from the large number of vendor tables (filling most of the gym and even spilling out into the hallways) selling everything from antique toy tractors to bumper stickers, to the children’s toy tractor pull and several auctions.There were also display contests, open to both local FFA members and out-of-towners. Linda Guiton took first place in Tractor & Implement display, Joe Hesbrook took home Best in Show, while Best Youth Exhibitor went to Middletown, N.Y., resident Lee Bush.“Pine Plains is one of my favorite events to go to,” said Lee, 15, who has competed at Pine Plains before. “It’s close nearby and everybody’s very friendly.”Locally, Best FFA Exhibition went to 13-year-old Brandon Simmons, who was competing for the first year.“I spent about a week on it,” he explained about his farm piece, which he said he didn’t model after any specific farm.At the pedal tractor pull, 5-year-old Aiden Boyle from Winsted took home top honors in the ages 6 and under category, while Jayden Silvia, 8, won in the 7- to 9-year-old category. No stranger to the pedal tractor pull, in which children try to pull a toy tractor with weights loaded into the back of it, Stone Scasso took home first place again in the 10- and 11-year-old category.One of the toy show highlights for many attendees was the limited edition tractor that Pine Plains sells. Every year a different model is offered, complete with a serial number (if you’re a true collector, you try to get the same number every year) and Pine Plains FFA sticker. This year’s model was an Allis Chalmers D14. One hundred and fifty tractors are available each year, and the FFA usually comes close to selling out.In terms of the sales that come in, all benefiting the FFA program, event emcee and President of the New York State Agricultural Society Dave Tetor said, “This is one of the biggest years we’ve had for sales and show tables.”

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