Kids Can Climb In Toy Maker's Corrals

Kids Can Climb In Toy Maker's Corrals AG WORLD 33-5-22 The young sons that inspired Jerry Sims to build a toy cattle-doctoring chute, now help Sims design and build toys for others. "It was the best babysitter ever," Sims recalls about the chute he made out of wood for his sons. "The boys played with it every day." Sims raises beef cattle for a living, but on the side, he is The Happy Toy Maker of Happy, Texas. All his creations relate to handling cattle and horses. His toy corral and loading chute is large enough (128-in. perimeter) for small children to get inside to play. Corral panels are 8 in. tall, and the adjustable loading chute is 14 in. Made of 3/8-solid steel rod and wire welded, they're practically indestructible and can be easily moved on wooden wheels. "The loading chute can be personalized with names, brands and short messages," Sims says. "We use a computerized plasma torch to personalize each set to your needs." Sons Wyatt, 11, and Wesley, 13, set up the computer for the torch as well as help cut metal rods for the corrals. While the corrals are usually personalized with brands, some customers request messages such as "Love, from Grandma." One proud grandpa custom ordered solid panels so he could include each grandchild's name and birthdate. The corral weighs 52 lbs. and costs $300 plus shipping. Sims also sells sets that come apart and can be purchased by the panel. While some customers purchase corrals for display, most purchase them for their children to play with. "They'll never break down, unless you run over them with a truck," Sims says. "Your kids will have them for their grandkids." Check out Sims' website to see his selection of other toys, which includes a round bale trailer that hauls 14 wood round bales; a straight deck cattle trailer; a Quonset barn; a $50 trailer that stores and hauls the panels for the corral, and many more items. "The boys are making a half-top trailer with a bullet nose," Sims adds proudly. Sims recently developed a 3 by 7-ft. riding arena complete with a roping box that opens with springs, bucking chutes and a return alley. The arena takes more material and time and is more expensive: Call Sims for current prices. "I love making toys," he adds. "I've lived in Happy for 44 years. Everybody kids me about being the happy toy maker. I'm kind of like a big kid that never grew up." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jerry Sims, P.O. Box 548, Happy, Texas 79042 (ph 806 433-2123; www.thehappytoymaker.com).

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