Kerr’s display spans decades

RANTOUL, Ill. — Eight tractors representing three decades were featured at the Kerr Auction display during the Half Century of Progress.

The featured tractors were an Oliver 500 utility tractor; 1971 Minneapolis-Moline G750 diesel, one of only 177 made; Oliver 1655; 1968 Oliver 1950-T; Massey Ferguson 1130; two John Deere 6030s; and a Versatile 1150 Custom.

“We started bringing tractors here in 2015. We brought nine tractors on the first trip and returned home with eight because we sold one that went to Arkansas. We’ve brought six to 10 every time we came here after,” said Alex Kerr, owner of Kerr Auction.

The Half Century of Progress, the largest vintage farm equipment show in the United States, drew tens of thousands of spectators to the Rantoul National Aviation Center.

“This is an event that is absolutely one of a kind to me. One, the ground we’re on right now, the history behind it, there’s a lot to that. We’re in central part of Illinois here, and then to see the diversity of items. This morning, I caught myself watching the old Cases fire wood up to get warmed up, then all the way up into some of the newer segments that are on the grounds here,” said Matt McCaskill of Kerr Auction.

“But, more importantly, it’s the people. I mean, there is a crowd here, probably one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen here at the Half Century of Progress. That’s what I enjoy, seeing people enjoy these things and then this atmosphere and the lineups. There’s a lot of different things to do here and see here.”

Prior to the Half Century of Progress, Kerr Auction, among the sponsors of the event, held a sale of classic tractors.

“We just recently set a record on a bunch of collector tractors. We set that sale specifically before this event so if somebody wanted to buy them to bring them here,” Kerr said.

“It just adds another segment to what we can do. We’re kind of known for selling super high dollar late model equipment, and now we’re adding the collector piece to it.”

Young Business

Kerr Auction started in May 2024, but owner Alex Kerr has extensive experience at sales going back to an internship at an equipment dealership while in college.

He started his sales career at a dealership after college, then expanded into buying and selling equipment in the early 2010s with his Kerr Equipment business.

The auction business quickly expanded in both territory and sales since last year with headquarters in Sterling, Illinois, and also auction locations in Alma Center, Wisconsin, and Torrington, Wyoming. Kerr partners with Tri Brothers Equipment at the Torrington location.

Kerr’s auctions go well beyond those locations.

“We go wherever we’re needed, mountain range to mountain range. We have an upcoming sale in Pennsylvania, and we go as far west as Wyoming and into southwestern Minnesota at this time,” McCaskill said.

“As any auction company, we offer whatever service is necessary to help the customer and their needs. Primarily right now, we’ve been focusing on equipment sales, consignment sales. We’ve done three retirements so far and then also recently brought on another team member that can help us with the real estate aspects, as well.”

McCaskill noted strong support the auction service has received from those within and outside the industry since starting last year.

“Alex’s network of people through the equipment side has made this transition for our business probably smoother than it should have been. So, thank you to those people and then also our clientele,” he said.

“We started off small. We had managed expectations with high goals, though. And every sale, we get closer and closer to achieving a lot of our individual goals and our business goals. So, it’s pretty humbling for that experience.”