JUDA - The Juda Next Generation 4-H Club is adding some fresh faces and new ideas to the 26th annual Juda Farm Toy Show they took over from Juda FFA members.
Juda FFA had raised its funds through entry ticket sales, but in the 4-H group's first year running the toy show, admission is free. The 4-H group will be raising funds by selling breakfast and lunch, as well as toys.
The leader of the 4-H group, Debbie Meyer, said they are not treating the event like a craft show. The group is aiming for a community-oriented event, complete with a mini tractor pull for the kids, food, a 50-50 raffle and locally grown produce from area vendors.
"There has been some concern because people don't know us or what we stand for," Meyer said of the group, which formed in September 2013. "Everything is done for the good of the community."
Marvin Becker, an alumni of FFA, said the toy show typically has about 50 tables of antique toys. He and Ralph Johnson, the Juda High School agriculture teacher, said there are thousands of toys on display every year.
Johnson said he has seen many students spend all four of their years in high school helping out at the toy show. Many of those students move away from Juda after graduation, so Johnson said he sometimes has to look to build interest in the show again. Johnson approached Meyer and the Next Generation 4-H group this year, which willingly joined in.
Johnson said there have been fewer people coming to the toy show in past years, and he hopes the free admission and youthful insight will bring in more.
"Hopefully more people come to see, out of curiosity, what's changed," Johnson said.
The show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Juda Community Center/Fire Station. Meyer said they will have a variety of agriculture-related products available, but they don't want to alienate fans of antique toys.
"We don't want to insult anybody; we just want to make some changes and bring in more people," she said.
Vanessa Fortney, a youth member of the Next Generation 4-H club, said she is looking forward to expanding the event in the future.
"We will see how this year goes, but we want to see it grow," Fortney said.
Meyer said they are trying to renew enthusiasm for the show and generate interest from outlying communities.
"I've got to get some word out that this isn't the same old thing - this is new and exciting," she said.
Meyer said the club's old motto was, "Stand back and watch it grow," but she wants their new motto to mark their work on the toy show: "It's not what you get, but what you give."
Juda FFA had raised its funds through entry ticket sales, but in the 4-H group's first year running the toy show, admission is free. The 4-H group will be raising funds by selling breakfast and lunch, as well as toys.
The leader of the 4-H group, Debbie Meyer, said they are not treating the event like a craft show. The group is aiming for a community-oriented event, complete with a mini tractor pull for the kids, food, a 50-50 raffle and locally grown produce from area vendors.
"There has been some concern because people don't know us or what we stand for," Meyer said of the group, which formed in September 2013. "Everything is done for the good of the community."
Marvin Becker, an alumni of FFA, said the toy show typically has about 50 tables of antique toys. He and Ralph Johnson, the Juda High School agriculture teacher, said there are thousands of toys on display every year.
Johnson said he has seen many students spend all four of their years in high school helping out at the toy show. Many of those students move away from Juda after graduation, so Johnson said he sometimes has to look to build interest in the show again. Johnson approached Meyer and the Next Generation 4-H group this year, which willingly joined in.
Johnson said there have been fewer people coming to the toy show in past years, and he hopes the free admission and youthful insight will bring in more.
"Hopefully more people come to see, out of curiosity, what's changed," Johnson said.
The show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Juda Community Center/Fire Station. Meyer said they will have a variety of agriculture-related products available, but they don't want to alienate fans of antique toys.
"We don't want to insult anybody; we just want to make some changes and bring in more people," she said.
Vanessa Fortney, a youth member of the Next Generation 4-H club, said she is looking forward to expanding the event in the future.
"We will see how this year goes, but we want to see it grow," Fortney said.
Meyer said they are trying to renew enthusiasm for the show and generate interest from outlying communities.
"I've got to get some word out that this isn't the same old thing - this is new and exciting," she said.
Meyer said the club's old motto was, "Stand back and watch it grow," but she wants their new motto to mark their work on the toy show: "It's not what you get, but what you give."