Machinery Pete has been looking forward to an auction featuring Kevin and Kathy Wilhelm’s collection for weeks and it did not disappoint. The July 14 auction in Mount Pulaski, Ill,.hosted by Maske Auction Service featured several big-ticket items, including:
- 2022 John Deere 8R 370 with 900 hours sold for $309,000.
- 2010 Kinze 3600 16/31 sold for $54,000.
- 1988 John Deere 4450 with 3,576 hours sold for $44,000 and earned Pete’s Pick of the Week.
Grandson Buys Grandfather’s John Deere 4450 After 20 Years
The 1988 John Deere 4450 caught Machinery Pete’s eye because of the history of the purchase. Andy Polley says a friend alerted him of the tractor’s sale after he saw Robert Polley, Andy’s grandpa, was the original owner. Andy knew then he wanted to buy it and recalls how his grandpa would sing to him as a child when they rode in the tractor together.
“I could not get up here fast enough to check it out, go through nostalgia, hop in it and remember,” Andy says.
Robert originally gave the 4450 to Kevin Wilhelm as payment for restoring a 1967 John Deere 3020 two decades ago. The 3020 was Robert’s favorite tractor, one that he would never sell because “it made the farm.” Andy now owns the 3020 too and uses it for his custom hay business.
Machinery Pete says this story emphasizes how important it is to personalize any asset you’re selling because it could lead to more money and stronger connections.
“If I were a dealer I would include more information about the previous owner on the listing because things like this can happen,” Machinery Pete says.
Another Illinois sale, this one an online retirement auction for Hartrich Farms hosted by Schmid Auction on July 15, featured a couple “eye-opening” prices:
- 2000 New Holland 8970 with 3,826 hours sold for $75,000, the highest auction price in five years on a blue 8970.
- 2002 New Holland TR89 combine with 1,878 sep. hours sold for $27,300, the highest auction price in over 12 years.
“Take good care of your stuff folks, and it’ll take care of you in the back end,” Machinery Pete says.
Pete Highlights July and August Illinois Tractor Auctions
Looking ahead to upcoming auctions, Machinery Pete highlights an auction in Xenia, Ill., hosted by Schmid Auction on July 21. Sefton Farms online retirement auction will feature a few tractors that Machinery Pete is keeping an eye on:
- 2010 John Deere 8270R with 3,647 hours
- 1995 John Deere 8100 with 8,399 hours
- 2011 John Deere S660 with 2,382 sep. hours
Machinery Pete is also putting a “red circle” on the calendar for an auction on Aug. 19 by Mowrey Auction Co., Inc. The sale will take place in Milford, Ill. with a pair of John Deere 6030. Machinery Pete describes the tractors as “about the nicest as [he’s] ever seen.”
