It took a lot of green to buy a green tractor, almost a record amount of cash.

William "Billy" Hopkins was a popular and well-known person in Marshall County, so Emily and Woody Woodruff of Woodruff Realty and Auction Company in Shelbyville expected a big day on May 13. But they got more than they expected.

They knew the John Deere Model 6430 with a loader was a popular model. Emily said they expected it to attract a final bid of between $70,000 and $90,000. The tractor sold new for $81,000 in 2010 at Baker Equipment Company, now TriGreen Equipment, in Columbia, Tennessee.

"His daughter, Melody Hopkins, who was handling the estate, filled us in on where he got it," Emily said. "She told us how well he had maintained it inside and out.

"The Sullivan brothers (Jeff & John) consulted with the Hopkins family. With their knowledge of equipment and their years of experience, they were able to recognize the value of the tractor and high demand for an item such as this making the auction such a success."

"When it got to $114,500, we were super surprised," Emily said. "l didn't realize at the time it was the second highest amount paid in the country for a 6430 model.

"It was all about the condition it was in. The Sullivan Brothers with J & J Detail cleaned it up as if it was their own and It looked like it was brand new."

It was the highest amount of any vehicle sold by Woodruff Realty and Auction which has been in existence for more than 10 years.

According to "Pete's Machinery Talk" website, it is the second highest price ever paid for a John Deere 6430 tractor with a loader. The tractor had 1,345 hours of use. The website listed a 2011 model with 1,461 hours as the record holder at $123,000. It was sold Aug. 18, 2022, in Prescott, Iowa. Third place is a 2009 model with 988 hours sold on July 8, 2021, in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota for $114,000. All three were listed in excellent condition.

There was so much interest in the tractor that the staff at the auction stayed on the phone with bidders as well as watched those in the crowd.

"We had a guy from Knoxville," Emily said. "l was on the line with a man from Union Springs, Alabama. We had someone working the Internet so people could bid. There was so much interest due to the shortage and wait times on getting new equipment."

Once the bidding passed the $100,000 barrier there was a brief lull in the bidding.

"The last little bit it kind of stalled at $105,00 to $110,000 and then another buyer stepped in late, and it went from there,” Emily said. “There were a lot of local people bidding. The successful buyer was from Cullman, Alabama and he was in the audience.”

The sale attracted 167 registered bidders despite rain most of the day. She said typically their auctions attract 50 to 100 bidders.

"It was a huge sale over there,” Emily said. “He had farmed there for over 50 years.

He was a lifelong member of the community and was very well-respected.

"It couldn't have been a worse day for an auction, due to the weather conditions. However, we are so thankful for a great turn out and the success for the Hopkins Family."