The Woods family will auction its 1,209‑acre farm in Fayette County on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, splitting the property into 13 parcels ranging from 53.7 to 172 acres.
The 84‑year legacy began when Tom Woods gradually bought land in the 1950s, expanding the farm through the 1980s and 1990s while running Woods Brothers Wholesale Co. His son farmed alongside him from 1980 to 2014, cementing a multi‑generational stewardship.
Soil quality tops the state charts: several tracts boast CSR2 ratings in the mid‑80s, and the property features a 34‑acre timber strip, Volga River frontage, and a pond that appeal to both crop producers and recreational buyers.
The auction will be hybrid, held at the Fayette Opera House in a buyer‑choice format where the highest bidder selects any combination of tracts on a price‑per‑acre basis. Travis Smock, senior land agent, said the price will be set after all 13 tracts are sold.
Such a large, multi‑tract sale is almost unheard of in northeast Iowa; Smock expects strong interest from local farmers, hunters, and investors looking for high‑yield land.
For the Woods, the event closes an 84‑year chapter of hard‑earned stewardship and opens a new one for whoever bids with the soil, timber, and river in their hands.