Burke County, Georgia - Almost 1,500 acres of Burke County farm and timberland will go to auction next month, in one of the largest single offerings of agricultural land in the area.
The property, formally owned by Ralph F. Smith Jr. and now owned by his daughters, is being sold as four distinct farms that can be purchased as a whole or broken into smaller acreages. Buyers will be able to bid on lots ranging in size from roughly 10 acres to several hundred.
Rusty Lane, president of South Auction in Swainsboro, said the various sizes of the parcels being sold or some combination thereof, offer a unique opportunity for buyers.
“These tracts have the potential for so many uses. You can continue as an ag operation on a varying scale; or as an investment tract with timber production. There are excellent hunting opportunities or other recreational use; and also some smaller home sites or even tracts with the possibility for further division and development in the future,” Lane said.
The land, which totals roughly 1,496 acres, is located in southwest Burke County, just north of Midville. It has been in the same family for eight generations. In the early 1970's, Ralph Smith Jr. inherited the property where he farmed mostly soybeans and peanuts. In the 1980’s Smith planted pine trees for timber production before he began leasing the cultivated land to another farmer in the 1990’s.
The land is now owned by his daughters Martha Smith Hartwell, Mona Smith Henley and Mary Smith Dalziel. The sisters say they, nor their families, live close to the area any longer and that distance played a part in selling the family property.
“It has not been an easy decision for us to make,” Dalziel said. “We’ve had the farm for so long; it’s been a big decision that we don’t take lightly.”
Lane said his company is seeing more of these types of properties that have been owned for multiple generations come up for sale as families spread out and leave rural areas. Born and raised in Emanuel County, Lane can understand why some people seek a different pace of life in other places or more urban areas.
“I’ve lived in this area my whole life, and while I love it, I can appreciate that it’s not for everyone,” Lane said. “Circumstances change. Kids grow up and move away. Parents retire and move closer to children and grandchildren. We understand that’s a big decision and I think we are uniquely suited to help families navigate that process.”
South Auction will be selling the tracts through an online-only auction where the bidding process takes place through the company’s website. Lane explained this format allows potential buyers to bid from the comfort of their home or office and doesn’t require the time or difficulty of traveling somewhere for a chance to bid.
“I won’t say the days of an auctioneer standing in the back of a pickup doing his chant are gone, but the auction industry has certainly changed,” said Lane, a long-time auctioneer himself. “Online-only auctions are now a proven method that allows buyers to bid from virtually anywhere. This process has been explosive for our company, generating top dollar for our sellers while also making the buying experience convenient and hassle-free for our buyers,” he said.
Bidding will open Nov. 1 and run through Nov. 15 and 16, depending on the specific tract. A “pig-pickin’” and farm tour will be held on the property on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 8 am to 4 pm with a complimentary lunch offered from 11 am to 1 pm. Lane encourages anyone interested in the property or in discussing the auction process to attend. Representatives from Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company’s Ag Division will be on hand to discuss financing options for potential buyers as well.
For more information visit South Auction’s website at www.SouthAuction.com or call 478-455-1861.
