SUBLETTE, Ill. – There is nothing quite like the Sublette Farm Toy Show. The show was March 15-16 in the small town of Sublette. The show is the town’s way of fundraising for their summer sports. This year, the featured brands were Minneapolis Moline, and Oliver. The town was filled with farm toys on display in the five buildings. Outside, there were farm tractors and trucks lining the street. This was the town’s 43rd show.

According to the town’s website, “The show attracts over 7,000 visitors from throughout the Midwest. The show is located throughout the village in five buildings with over 300 tables of toys and over 200 full-size antique tractors. Sublette Volunteer Fire Department holds pancake and sausage breakfast the same weekend. On the third Saturday of May and the third Saturday of September, a car show is held in the village. The fall show features Kraiser-Frazer and Willys-Overland automobiles. The first Saturday of September, Hops & Harmony Event is held by Sublette 365.”

The weather took a turn for the cooler with a dusting of snow making the tractors shine and gleam in the sunshine. While a bit colder than previous days, any visitor to the Sublette Farm Toy Show knows that the weather can be anything – rain, snow, ice, or balmy spring weather.

Besides farm toys, they also had farm displays on hand. One young builder had a trophy showing he had previously won a display contest at a major toy show. Another display termed “Hertz Performance Ag” showed several farm buildings without the roof, and a farm with spring planting in full force.

Although MM was the featured brand, many others were included in this two-day show. One of the most iconic scenes at the show was a John Deere 45 square back, old-style combine with a 353 three row model corn picker dusted with snow. Maruice Zimmerlein, of Sublette, had his 1957 John Deere tractor on display. On a sign it shared, “Restored in dedication to the Zimmerlein Family Farm.” Sentimental tugs are found everywhere at this cool show.

A rare 1921 Moline Universal, one of the lite tractors, was at the show as well.

Calvin Elder, a Farmall fan and International Harvester collector, had just wrapped driving his 1954 Super MTA Diesel tractor in downtown Springfield during the St. Patrick’s Day parade. He was part of a group of the Ansar Shrine Ag Corps members. Along with Elder’s red tractor, there were a couple John Deere, an Oliver, and a Case on hand to celebrate the Irish.

At Sublette, Elder found a line-up of Farmalls to suit his red taste. He took a minute to pose with a beautiful Farmall 1206 Diesel dotted with snow. “The 1206 tractors will be at the Half Century of Progress this year,” he reminded his companion traveling with him to the show.

Two IH 1466’s tractors were also on display in the snow-dotted street. What really caught Elder’s eye though was the 1086 semi decked out in International Harvester décor.

With MM as the featured brand, a little R cab tractor garnered significant attention. Parked next to a brute of a G1350, the R almost looked small. There was also an MM UB as well as a G1000 in the MM mix. An MM 602 tractor, as well as a 1036 Twin city Model J, was on display in memory of Avery Stevens.

With Olivers also featured, a lovely 1937 Oliver7 0 Standard with steel wheels covered with rubber was a show stealer. It was a neat contrast parked next to the newer Oliver 1650.

The show brings collectors to town, in part because this event is a celebration of farm toys, and the end of winter. One of the last shows of the year, collectors start planning for antique tractor shows and warmer days. This show fits both bills and offers a perfect transition from one season to another.

Attendance is key because this show not only puts Sublette on the map, but also funds summer sports, and a variety of scholarships as well. Keep the calendars open because on the second Sunday of September they celebrate Pullin in the Park, where a truck and tractor show is held.