OSCO, Ill. – Relentless winter weather had little effect on the Feb. 23 retirement auction of Lowe and Hanson Farms. Sullivan Auctioneers, a BigIron company, conducted the 98-lot online sale, following a Feb. 16 inspection.

In the 1970s, Ray Hanson and Curt and Jake Lowe formed a partnership that grew over five decades into a sizable row-crop operation. As things expanded, the group emphasized buying quality machinery and keeping it in top condition. For 15 years, the farm employed a full-time mechanic to oversee maintenance. After Hanson’s passing in 2025, the families decided to retire and sell the line, which featured late-model harvesting equipment, tractors, planting and tillage tools, augers, and other support pieces.

Leading the sale at $366,000 was a 2024 John Deere S770 2WD combine showing 478 engine hours and 344 separator hours. Equipped with ProDrive, HarvestSmart, auto shift, and many other options, including premium lighting and technology packages, the machine reflected the farm’s commitment to top-tier equipment.

Then came two well-equipped Deere 4WD tractors. A 2021 model 9420R with 1,721 hours reached $286,000. It held a 6-cylinder diesel engine, 18-speed Powershift transmission, large 1000 PTO, 3-point hitch, five hydraulic outlets, JD Quick Hitch, and 480/80R50 tires with duals. Technology included Cab Command, touchscreen display, AutoTrac, Data Sync, RowSense and Section Control. Meanwhile, a 1996 model 8870 with 4,323 hours fetched $86,250. It featured a 10.1-liter diesel engine, Quad-Range transmission, large 1000 PTO, three hydraulic outlets, and 520/85R42 rear duals.

Five 2WD tractors followed. A 1981 Deere 4440 with 8,074 hours sold for $45,001. It sported a 6-cylinder diesel engine, Quad-Range transmission, Deere 158 loader, 3-point hitch, 540/1000 PTO, three hydraulic outlets, 11.00-16 front tires, and single 18.4R38 rears fitted on dual-axle hubs. From the same era, a 1979 Deere 4840 with 6,833 hours brought $32,250. It featured a 6-cylinder diesel, PowerShift transmission, three hydraulic outlets, 1000 PTO, three-point JD Quick Hitch, 10 suitcase weights, 16.5L-16.1 front tires, and 18.4R42 rear duals with inside wheel weights. A close $31,750 won a 1982 John Deere 4640 with 3,221 hours. Similarly equipped, it had a 6-cylinder engine, QuadRange transmission, 1000 PTO, three hydraulic outlets, 3-point JD Quick Hitch, cab kit, 14L-16.1 front tires, front weights, and 20.8-38 rear duals. The low of $14,349 went for a 1976 John Deere 2640 2WD with 1,373 hours. It featured a two-stick 8-speed transmission, Deere 146 loader, ROPS canopy, two hydraulic outlets, 3-point hitch, 540/1000 PTO, 11L-15 front tires, and 16.9-28 rears.

Field equipment included a 2023 Kinze 4905 24R30 planter with under 5,000 acres, garnering $106,251. It featured Kinze 3000-series row units, adjustable gauge wheels, 2-point hitch, PTO-driven hydraulics, wing fold, two-tank bulk center fill, pneumatic down pressure, and numerous other options. A Deere 7000 12R30 planter outfitted with front fold, Yetter coulters, seed/herbicide boxes, corn and bean units, double disc openers, and V-style closing wheels reached $7,000

A $5,100 bid got a 30-foot Glencoe 4300 soil finisher with walking tandem axles, 5-bar spike-tooth harrow, spring ride shanks, and 9.5L-15 tires. A surprising $625 won a 48-foot Deere 1050 field cultivator, with 3-bar tine harrow, spring-ride shanks, hydraulic lift/fold, walking tandem axles, and 9.5L-15 tires.

Augers represented one of the day’s larger categories, with 10 units offered, including an 85-foot-long, 13-inch Farm King 1385 swing-away, with 540 PTO, pin hitch, and 11L-15 tires, hammering at $12,500. A 31-foot, 10-inch Westfield WRX 10-31, with 540 PTO and ST205/75D15 tires, brought $5,100, while a 70-foot, 10-inch Buhler 1070 swing-away, with 540 PTO, and ST225/75R15 tires, landed $4,700.

Two available batwing mowers sold well. A 15-foot Woods BW1800XQ with walking tandem axles, front/rear chains, 1000 PTO, and H29x9.0-15 tires got $12,250. Then, a 15-foot Land Pride RCM5515 Commander with front/rear chains, 1000PTO, hydraulic raise/lower/fold, and 8 laminated tires landed $9,900.

Eyes then turned to precision farm equipment, including two John Deere Star Fire 6000 receivers selling for $2,500 and $2,600, respectively. One was used for 2,104 hours; the other for 2,599. Each set for SF1 (no subscription required). A Star Fire 3000 with 541 hours, also SF1, brought $1,200. Later, a Deere GS3 2630 display, used for 4,600 hours, with section control, also SF1, reached $3,000. A Cab Cam kit, with display and camera, got just $235.

Attachments, accessories, and parts included a Herd Sure feed spreader with 3-point hitch, 540 PTO, and hydraulic hookup, scoring $1,000; three pairs of 24.5-32 tractor duals going from $120–$700; a set of 12 John Deere suitcase weights and bracket for $875; and, two JD Quick Hitches for $263 and $400.

Five truck tractors added variety to the lineup. Bidding highest at $48,750 was a 2000 Kenworth T800 tandem-axle with 801,190 miles. It featured a Cummins N14-Plus diesel engine, Eaton Fuller 10-speed transmission, air ride, 183-inch wheelbase, 11R24.5 tires with rear duals, and aluminum rims. A 2003 Freightliner FLD120 tandem-axle with 864,367 miles, recently overhauled, reached $41,750. It held a Detroit Series-60 12.7-liter turbo diesel engine, Meritor 10-speed transmission, 210-inch wheelbase, day cab, wet kit, and 11R22.5 tires. The category low of $17,500 took a 1979 International C0F4070B TransStar II tandem-axle cabover with 127,583 miles and recent fuel injection refurbishing. It had a Cummins 350 diesel engine, Eaton Fuller 10-Speed transmission, spring suspension, 146-inch wheelbase, and 11R24.5 tires.

Hauling was rounded out by four similarly-equipped 41-foot Wilson DWH-500 PaceSetter grain trailers, each with Shurco electric tarps. Prices ranged from $23,000 for a 2003 model to $34,000 for a 2016 unit, concluding an energetic auction that showcased this farm’s impressive equipment lineup.