The Prairie Star: Montana Ag Newspaper

Santa is going to have a heavy sleigh this year, as he delivers all the toys to Montana's boys and girls.

It seems Santa will be delivering lots of agricultural toys to children of all ages.

Big R cashier Deb Bayless of Great Falls said toy semi trucks and horse trailers are among the most popular toys sold this holiday season.

"Little girls prefer the Breyer horses," she added.

Like many little boys, Dwain Hould of Columbus wants a new horse trailer for Christmas, but this one should hold more than a Breyer horse or cow.

Girls and boys alike play with Breyer livestock, according to Donna Pippin, owner of Action Toys in Billings. The toy animals are great compliments to the vehicular toys, she said.

"It's like you buy a pickup and trailer, and get a horse and some cows to go with it," Pippin explained.

Fifteen-year-old Cody Martinez of Winnett said a new truck is exactly what takes top priority on his Christmas wish list. "I want a 2003 Chevy four-door extended cab pickup that is black," he said.

Russell Becker of Balentine doesn't want a new pickup, but accessories to add to his new Dodge he purchased earlier this year. "I'd like a bumper grill, a nerf bar, side steps and to have its windows tinted," he said.

Pickups aren't just for boys. Pippin said her daughters preferred to play with toy tractors and pickups rather than dolls Barbies and baby dolls.

In fact, Pippin's two boys and two girls inspired her to start Action Toys. "I had four kids that liked to play with tractors and this time every year I'd run all over town looking for toy tractors for them," she said. "I thought there ought to be one place where you could find it all."

But there wasn't in Billings, and thus, Action Toys was born in 1986. Today Action Toys is the largest retail toy store specializing in agriculture toys in the United States.

Action Toys has a vast variety of agriculture toys for children of all ages. From stuffed animals and toy tractors of every brand to toy construction equipment and tricycle tractors to toy cows and horses.

Pippin admits she sometimes finds herself playing with the merchandise, though her passion lies along the store walls - a 6,000-piece toy tractor collection.

"I was raised on a farm where toys weren't as common as today," Pippin recalled. "I am reliving my childhood through this store. I play some and keep my collection up."

Whenever a new tractor comes out, Pippin is first in line to add it to her collection. Other collectors do the same, watching the tractor catalogs for more than just new parts.

Though their initial interest may not be to collect toy tractors, children's toys often turn into collectors items as time goes by.

Pippin said the tractors purchased from Action Toys can be played hard and later cleaned up for a collection when playing time is done because they are "all high quality die-cast. They are made to be played with," she stressed.

Toy tractors arent' the only agriculture toys making Santa's list.

Winnett School seniors Cedar Woodford and Carrie Brady want university attire for Christmas. Brady wants an University of Montana Grizzly jersey, along with with a laptop to use in college, while Woodford said he'd like a Montana State University Bobcat Big Sky Conference Championship t-shirt, as well as some new ropes with which to go team roping.

Tools and dogs are not only man's best friend, but they also show up on Christmas lists in Montana.

Being a realistic man, Fred Crisp said he hopes this holiday will bring him a new socket set. "But if we're being nonrealistic, I'd like an all-expense paid trip to Australia so I can visit a friend's ranch," he added.

Fifteen-year-old Lacy Hicks of Winnett said she wants a puppy for Christmas. "I want a Jack Russell Terrier puppy," she explained. "And money so I can get myself something."

Jeff Winkler of Billings also wants to purchase his own Christmas gifts. "I think I'd like to get myself a new gun safe because I already have too many for my old one and I want a fire-proof one," he said. "Or if someone would give me a half a ton of chicken feed, that would be good, too."

Some adults will have less than practical gifts under the Christmas tree this year - like talking dolls.

A toy called Mr. Wonderful has won the Big R popularity contest among the adults, said Bayless. "It's a doll dressed as a guy that says things like, 'That game isn't that important, why don't you let me rub your feet,'" she explained. "He says 16 different phrases. Adults are buying him for other adults."

Rural mothers and fathers often prefer agricultural toys to the latest toy fad.

"They are politically correct toys," said Pippin. "From farm sets to construction toys, they're nonsexist, nonviolent toys. Kids who play with tractors have a whole different attitude than those who play with other toys."

While the agriculture toys are popular across the board this year, Pippin said the new Breyer fifth-wheel horse trailer and pickup sets are making there way under the Christmas trees.

"The little tractors - 64-scale- are great for little guys and gals because they can stick them in their pockets ," she said. "They also make great stocking stuffers."