Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company, a Columbia-based auctioneer of agricultural land throughout the United States, is gearing up for the upcoming auction of seven farms, with a total of 459 acres, in northwest Ohio on March 15.

            "The tillable tracts range from 5.5 acres to 55 acres, and are perfect for neighboring operators who can take advantage of this auction to expand their holdings," said R.D. Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company. "The buildings are on a three-acre tract and include a 5,400-square-foot steel building that's beautifully finished out, and was used to store and show Mr. Keil's classic car collection. The second 5,400-square-foot building has a two-storey living area, as well as a shop/machine storage area."

            According to the press release of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company in PR NewsWire, the farms located within approximately 16 miles of Defiance are being auctioned because of the retirement of Ben and Shirley Keil due to health reasons. The farms include 424 acres of FSA tillable land with productive soils, as well as six grain bins and two large steel buildings. The estate will be sold in 12 tracts while the grain bins will be offered individually in six additional tracts.

            Interested parties may inspect the farms on March 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Tract 5, located at 12115 McCavit Road, Ney, Ohio, 43549. The auction of the farms will take place at the Fairview Elementary School in 6289 US Highway 127, Sherwood, on March 15 beginning at 6 p.m. Online bidders are allowed to join the auction of the farms as long as they have registered for the auction one week before the event.

            There will also be an auction for equipments for the Keil operations, such as tractors, combine, heads, planters, sprayers, tillage tools, trucks, trailers and lifts on March 17 at 10:30 a.m. in 12115 McCavit Road, Ney, Ohio, 43549.