SEMO Collectibles Show about more than just trading cards

SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – Call it a hobby. Call it a passion. Whatever it is, people young and old can collect cards and have fun doing it. 

Shane Paschall, who traveled two hours from Milan, Tenn., to Sikeston for the SEMO Collectibles Show, said something as simple as a common interest can spark a connection.

“I’ve met tons of people and developed relationships with people that are not from my area,” he said. “You just have that common bond and you strike up conversations with people because you have that same interest and hobby.” 

Alex Cochran, who has been collecting cards for 20 years, said the youngsters hold a special place in the card collecting community. 

“Being able to sell those cards to them, and hopefully in 20 years, they’re going to be on the other side of the table doing what I’m doing,” he said. “That’s always super cool to see the kids and maybe help them with their own collection with the newer players that they like so much.” 

It doesn’t have to be a rare or expensive card to be a special one.

“They come around and they want to trade for something they really want, and a lot of times it may not be an expensive card,” Paschall said. “It’s just a player that they really like. Everybody has that. Everybody has a personal collection that they like. It may not be something that’s expensive. It’s just a team or an individual player they collect, and it means more to them than the price tag.” 

There’s just something about this hobby, this passion, that draws people together. 

“There’s no such thing as a bad day at the card show, but even if there was, it’d still be a lot better than being at work,” organizer Michael Wilkes said. 

The next SEMO Collectibles Show will be August 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Miner Convention Center in Sikeston.