3 Generations of Family Farm Equipment for Sale

Shelby County farmer Morris Smith is spending a lot telling folks like Jack Grosso about his farm equipment.

"I'm interested in the older machinery and stuff, like the tractors," Grosso said. "And he's got an old truck."

Some of the machinery on Smith's Shelby County farm goes back at least a couple generations.

"The wagon had to be my grandfather's because it's pretty old," Smith said. "Dad always kept it in the barn, because we didn't use it when powered equipment came around, so we just kept it around as a memento."

He also has several old Farmalls, like an M, that represent his father's generation.

"Dad bought that brand new," Smith said. "And that was probably one of the first tractors that I was ever able to drive. When I was 8 or 9 years old, they'd put me on there and show me what to do and I was given responsibility to carry that out or I'd suffer the consequences."

There's also plenty of newer equipment that he's purchased since taking over the farm in the 70s, like a 9760 combine which has things like GPS and yield monitors, and can even steer itself.

"The pace of change is really accelerating," Smith said. "I think, new technology is coming on and it's taking less labor to do more every day, so I think one person is going to be able to do quite a bit of production in the coming years."

But he won't be seeing the changes any more as a farmer. He's retiring, and putting everything from his tillage equipment to an antique gas pump up for auction.

"I didn't have any family members that could follow after me," Smith said. "So it was probably best just to wrap things up at this point in time and let somebody else handle it."

His kids may not be interested in taking over, but the equipment has plenty of memories for them as well.

"We always did the pictures, like so many kids in central Illinois, in the tractor wheel wells and things like that," Smith's daughter Alison Hopkins said. "I have a lot of fond memories growing up and riding in the tractors and combines with my dad."

Some of these tractors may be hard for Morris to part with.

"The 1206 I'll miss that, and I will miss the M," Smith said. "Those two will be hard to get along without."

He is looking forward to retirement, but that doesn't mean sale day will be a happy day.

"It'll be a sadder day without a doubt," Smith said.

The sale will be held Monday, December 10.

For more information, head to the auctioneer's website by clicking here.