Jay Byrd and his wife, Cassandra Byrd, graduated from WKU in 2025, but have remained involved with the community by continuing their search for TopperFellas.
They have been involved with TopperFella since its inception, and hunting for the figures even became an important part of their relationship.
“It was like date night, you hold hands, walk around, and talk,” said Jay Byrd. “It’s like a three-in-one thing, we get to be with each other, we get to go have fun and look around, and we get to exercise all at the same time.”
TopperFellas even made an appearance at their wedding, with Cassandra Byrd’s bouquet holding two Fellas in the stem.
Themed the Fella Fun Fair, the third and biggest trade day didn’t just allow collectors to trade TopperFellas. Attendants played games, donated to support the production of TopperFellas, and participated in competitions, all while bonding over their shared interest.
An hour before the event began at 4 p.m., a line of TopperFella enthusiasts wrapped around the second floor of the Downing Student Union waiting to get into DSU 2123.
Freshman vocal music education major Carson Landgrebe, one of the first people in line, said he rushed over from a recital performance still in his suit and bowtie to get in line before it got too packed.
The trade days began as a way for TopperFella fans to meet and grow their collections by trading for Fellas they wanted.
“There are so many different ones nowadays, and a lot of people don’t have a lot of free time,” Landgrebe said. “It helps people get (Fellas) that they couldn’t normally get.”
But now, it’s become more. The anonymous creator of TopperFella themselves said the trade days are great for building relationships.
“I think just having the in-person trades and stuff that people do, it’s just a great way for people to connect, to make friends,” the creator said. “So many friend groups have been formed and discovered as a side effect of TopperFella.”
After the doors opened, those in line were able to pick up a special trade day Fella as they entered. While inside, attendants found a packed room filled with TopperFella-themed activities and ways to engage with the TopperFella community, such as competitions and looking at displayed collections.
The trade day featured carnival games with TopperFella themes, such as Fella Pong, Fella Plinko and Fella Flip. Attendants played a dice rolling game with the TopperFella creator, getting a clear red Fellas if able to beat them or getting to trade with the creator’s personal collection.
The event also served as a fundraiser to keep TopperFella in operation during the next academic year, allowing participants to donate money in exchange for TopperFella merchandise such as earrings, shirts and prints. They could also donate in exchange for raffle tickets to win various TopperFella-themed prizes like a custom chess set and big stands to display collections.
Hudson Hatcher, a senior computer science major manning the donations table, said the donations allow the TopperFella operations to expand and get more people involved. Hatcher said he wanted to contribute to the event as a volunteer to give back to the community he loves.
“It is one of the nicest communities, everyone is so willing to talk about TopperFellas,” Hatcher said. “I’ve always been kind of a more socially awkward person, and it’s something that really helped me to kind of get out of my show and then talk to more people.”
For the creator of TopperFella, it is a lot of work to put into TopperFellas, but it is so rewarding.
“There have been multiple fans who have literally written me letters and messages I get on Instagram, and (with the) things that people have said to me today, it blows my mind that it means so much,” the creator said.
The creator said what makes them so happy is how much joy they can generate for hundreds of people.
“At the end of the day, they’re just little 3D printed dudes that are hidden around campus,” Landgrebe said. “It’s just really cool to see that something so simple can make such a drastic community.”
