This year’s Winamac (Ind.) Farm Toy Show was the 22nd annual event. Sponsored by the Indiana Power From the Past group, this year’s January show offered up some wonderful surprises, one of which was the lovely miniature barns and farm buildings created by Eugene Turner.

Eugene and his wife, Betty, were on hand with their display of miniatures that he began creating 24 years ago. “I started making barns,” Eugene said, “then I spread into other things like covered bridges, grist- mills, old grain mills and more.”

Visitors to the show were amazed at the amount of detail that Eugene puts into his miniature buildings. One shared that she was soon to retire and was hoping to start going into woodworking as a hobby. She enjoyed the picturesque miniatures that Eugene created and had a lot of questions about how he got into the hobby.

The farm collectibles come easily to Eugene because of his childhood. He grew up on a farm, then spent his work life in a factory glass container company. The country boy comes through loud and clear still today in his beautiful farm creations.

“I make a lot of gas stations, but barns are a big thing. I call them miniature collectibles,” he said.

Eugene’s business is Custom Built Miniature Collectible Barns and he resides in Jonesboro, Ind., which he said is James Dean country. “The hardest thing I have made is a sawmill; there are a lot of little pieces. I also make round barns.”

His barns have spread far and wide: “I made a saloon that is in England and barns in Nebraska and gazebos in Arizona, California and all over the U.S.”
The Winamac show offered up around 150 tables and brought about 2,000 people to the Winamac Elementary School. The show allowed clubs such as the WWPA pulling models a chance to share information about their hobbies. Each of these models was set up and each was distinctively different.
Harley was represented at the show, in the form of a unique rocking cycle located near some large-scale trucks on display.

Besides the trucks and tractors, there were also two brothers selling farm literature and memorabilia.

Collectors large and small looked for their individual preferences. Eight-year-old Colton Maxwell was with his dad, Daniel, and grandparents Chuck and Debbie Maxwell. While Grandpa and Grandma are diehard Farmall red and model Jeep collectors, Colton had found his favorite thing: A miniature police car.
“I like them all,” the young man explained.

Indiana Power From the Past hosts other shows besides this – this summer they are offering their antique tractor Power From the Past Show. The website at http://winamacpowershow.com/

index.htm shares, “This show is much more than a gathering of gas engine and tractor enthusiasts. Although, those are pretty amazing when all the engines are chugging at once!

“With the passage of time, many of our younger generation have never seen or experienced farm life in its heyday. We’re creating a learning experience from this event, where the future meets the past. Everyone, young and old, should see the Power from the Past Show!”

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.