Major tract sells to Curtis couple

Auctioneer Johnny Walker and Gateway Realty, McCook, Nebraska, sell 5,776 acres of Frontier and Hayes county farm land Tuesday morning for Dolores Graff and the Peter M. Graff Estate. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Auctioneer Johnny Walker told those gathered Tuesday for the sale of 5,776 acres of Frontier and Hayes county farm land that opportunities like this don't come along very often.

McCook, Nebraska, banker and farmer / rancher Pete Graff had put together over many years what was offered for sale in seven contiguous tracts of pasture, dryland and irrigated farm land, Walker said. "Pete and his family worked hard and held the land together," Walker said.

Walker told potential bidders, "It takes a rare man to recognize opportunity." (Speaking of Graff? Speaking of those contemplating the purchase of land? Most likely, both ... )

About 75 attended the sale, watched closely by Mark Graff, above left, and Mike Thomas, on Mark's left, sons of Pete and Dolores. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Walker encouraged bidders and buyers to "look beyond the circumstances" -- the price of commodities, the cost of fuel, property taxes. "Taxes are high. We all know that," he admitted. "But we figure it out and make it work."

"This opportunity does not come around often," he said of the chance to purchase premier farm land and cattle pastureland, all in one big chunk, in Southwest Nebraska.

Walker told potential buyers, "You guys are the dirt buyers. Buy some dirt."

Coming out of a conversation in a corner, Bruce and Angel Brennemann of Curtis put in the final successful bid of $5.3 million -- $917.54 per acre -- to purchase the land. During the last of eight rounds, individual bids on seven tracts totaled $5,170,000. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

The sale started by obtaining a best bid on each of the seven tracts individually and then taking a bid for the seven tracts as one combined entity. At the end of each of six subsequent rounds, either the individual prices or the combined price were higher, and individual bidders or the couple (or any other qualified bidder) bidding on the entire package were given the opportunity to raise their bids to ensure that their offer brought more money for the Graff family and Pete Graff's estate.

At the end of several recesses and eight rounds -- 3 1/2 hours later -- the combined price of $5.3 million prevailed and bidder No. 37, Bruce and Angel Brennemann of Curtis, were the new owners of 5,776.3+- acres of Frontier and Hayes county farm land and pasture.

Bruce Brennemann said he's been involved in livestock all his life, and he has lived in the Curtis area for 18 years. The Graff land increases his and his family's farmland holdings, he said.