Ulen farmer saying goodbye to massive tractor collection

Ulen, MN (WDAY TV) - Just outside of Ulen, Minnesota, one family's rich farming history is about to be on the auction block. The Mikulecky brothers farmed for decades on their rural Becker County land.

They found themselves amassing one of the biggest John Deere Tractor Collections around.

During the next two days, buyers and collectors from around the world will be bidding and bringing home a piece of the past.

There is a lot of iron; a sea of green and a collection of John Deere tractors – nearly 160 – and family history here on the Miikulecky farm near Ulen.

Robert is the only surviving brother. Frank and George have passed on, and so this retired farmer has decided it’s time to sell his rows and rows of green tractors - some dating back to the early days of field work here.

The brothers have kept the tractors in sheds, some in the woods nearby; They got bit by the collecting bug after they finally got rid of the milk cows years ago.

Robert Mikulecky - Selling 160 tractors: “This is like missing a boil, you know.”

There are more than 200 stationary engines for sale; what our ancestors used to keep the farm running before electricity. There are cast iron tractor seats and Maytag engines - a collection that is the talk of the town.

The real star of the show is the Waterloo Boy. Green is the color of money here. So rare is this piece, it could fetch $80,000.

Todd Mikulecky - Nephew: “When the milk cows went out, the tractors came in. Got rid of the cattle and started buying tractors built a quonset, then built a building to put more in. Then built a shop to work on them.”

Family and the auctioneers have spent several weeks preparing for the sale, giving them all time to reflect on the years the Mikulecky brothers spent farming.

For Robert, it's time. He lives in assisted living now, and rather than see these relics sit in sheds, why not sell them off and let someone else listen to the sound that helped the brothers plant and harvest their way to success?

Hundreds are expected at that sale, and technology now allows bidders on line from across the world.

Seifert Auctioneers is prepared to handle live, on-line bidding. The combination of tractors, stationary engines, cast iron tractor seats and more, will attract what is expected to be a historic number of bidders.

While a few of the 160 tractors will be bought for parts, most run and are in good shape.

Loren Seifert, Seifert Auctioneers: “We will have some go overseas. They bid online, simulcast selling online. We have an operator doing online. She yips for them and they can hear us selling.”

This is a two day auction, starting tomorrow at 9 am. The sale is east of Ulen. Follow the auction signs.

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