Collecting Minneapolis Moline toys takes Jay Groskreutz back to his childhood.

The Minnesota Lake man collects miniatures of the tractors his grandfather and dad used to farm.

Groskreutz estimates he was about 12 when he started collecting. “There are only three original Moline toys that I don’t have,” he said.

Those missing toys are a wooden wagon, which accompanied a wooden tractor as a centerpiece at a banquet; a rubber tractor; and an original corn sheller.

“Otherwise, I have everything else (that is not a reproduction),” he said.

He especially enjoys toys that came out in the 1960s and ‘70s.

“I’ve replaced most of the toys I played with as a kid,” he said.

He appreciates the small parts on some of his toys. “If I had some of these toys when I was a kid, they never would have lasted,” he said.

The toys are getting harder and harder to find, so much of his focus is on Minneapolis Moline memorabilia now.

“I really like it when I find stuff from the local towns. It’s tough to find, but I do find some,” he said.

Memorabilia includes laundry sticks, hats, thermometers, buttons, pencils, pens and more.

Groskreutz said he attends the National Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa, each fall. He also attends about a dozen smaller toy shows throughout the year and also regularly checks eBay for what he’s looking for.

He will be one of the exhibitors at the 20th annual Tiger City Farm Toy Truck & Collectibles Show. The show will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Northbridge Mall. This is the only show at which Groskreutz exhibits. He’ll bring some of the extra toys he’s collected, as well as some of the toys he’s restored.

Groskreutz started collecting 1/64th scale toys, including Case, Ford and Massey Ferguson. “Now I only collect Minneapolis Moline,” he said.

In addition to collecting Minneapolis Moline toys, Groskreutz also collects a few Oliver tractors, John Deere (because he works at the implement shop) and White, which bought out Minneapolis Moline.

Groskreutz has two brothers who both collect Moline memorabilia and toys as well.