Baird estate up for auction online

Jerry Baird, who passed away at the age of 82 in November of 2020 at the height of the pandemic, could be described as a farmer, a dreamer, an inventor, a man of faith, and a problem solver among many other adjectives.

Baird, a district manager for Allis Chalmers Farm Equipment from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, was instrumental in bringing the indoor tractor pulls to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, an event that showcases innovations in the agricultural field, along with machinery. Farmers from all across the country attend the event.

“Dad was definitely a visionary,” said Joyce Ashby, Baird’s daughter. “The organizers with the farm machinery show told him that he could bring the indoor tractor pulls for one year, but the event was so successful that it’s been a big part of the show ever since.”

Baird even made advances in the motorsport and tractor pull community.

“Dad designed a new way of measuring the distances pulled by the tractors,” said Jane Crumbaker, another of Baird’s daughters.

The new measurement system, engineered by Baird and his son-in-law at the time, allowed for more safety to the tractor pull officials as it utilized lasers to measure distances, rather than having officials use measuring tapes. The system was so successful that a variation of it is still used at tractor pulls today.

“Dad would see a problem and come up with a solution,” Ashby said. “He was always tinkering and coming up with solutions. He even created machines to help remove and reduce the smoke that accumulated inside of Freedom Hall during the pulls.”

Baird’s daughters and son, David, years after his death, finally felt ready to begin going through his possessions and organizing his collections last summer.

“Dad was a collector. So, it’s been really hard looking at everything and deciding what we wanted to keep and what we could part with,” said Crumbaker.

So, to help with the project, A.J. Woosley, an auctioneer with American Land & Farm, an auction and real estate company out of Bowling Green, stepped in at the beginning of January to start the process of cataloging Baird’s personal collections and belongings.

“This was a big undertaking,” said Woosley. “We had to organize, clean-up, catalogue and photograph everything to start putting the items up on our website for the auctions.”

American Land & Farm solely utilizes an online format for their auctions.

“During the pandemic, we were in the middle of preparing for an auction and the world just shut down. So, we had to think of a way to still have the auction, so we could continue the business, so having online auctions was the solution,” Woosley said.

The online format has been so successful that the company hasn’t gone back to in-person bidding.

“The convenience is just unmeasured. Take today for example. The weather is gross and nasty, so we wouldn’t have much of a turn-out for an in-person auction and people would be ready to get out of the weather,” Woosley explained. “But by holding the auction online, weather isn’t a factor and we can reach so many more people who are interested in the items.”

Woosley said that he’s gotten bids from as far away as Canada, Maine, and Florida, along with interest from local buyers and shoppers.

“I think we’ve had bidders from all states at this point. I’ve been blown away with how many people we’ve been able to reach,” Woosley said.

Baird’s collections range from farm equipment and implements, tools and hardware, Allis Chalmers collectibles, memorabilia from the National Farm Machinery Show and Tractor Pull, vintage toy tractors and train sets, Western wear, household items, artwork and collectors movies.

“There are several paintings by Owensboro artist Jan Anderson,” Woosley said.

But Woosley, Cumbaker and Ashby all agree that the most interesting part of Baird’s collection is the antique Owensboro wagon.

“It’s not restored, but it’s all original and in great shape considering its age,” Woosley said.

The family is currently only auctioning the contents of Baird’s home and shops, but, eventually, they’re probably going to sell the land as well.

“It’s been hard parting with everything. Dad sold a bunch of the farmland before he passed, so we don’t have to worry about much,” Crumbaker said. “And we hope to keep the house and the remaining land in the family. This land has been in the hands of the Bairds since the 1800s, off and on, so we’re hoping we can find a distant relative, perhaps a cousin, to buy it.”

Baird and the other “Owensboro Boys,” including Donnie “Boots” Bittel, Jim “Drag” Burns, Joe England, Carl Mercer, Walter Harder, Billy Joe Miles and Gene Wilkerson, not to be confused with that other group of “Owensboro Boys”, were inducted into the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Crumbaker said that the family has donated some of Baird’s memorabilia to the museum to help cement Baird’s legacy in the field of indoor motorsports.

“Dad always taught us that if we’re going to do something, we needed to do it right. And he was always finding solutions to problems,” Ashby said.

Information about the Baird Estate auctions can be found on American Land & Farm’s website, americanlandandfarm.com. There are three listed auctions, one devoted to farm equipment, firearms and tools, one involving antiques and farm show memorabilia and one showcasing movies, movie ads and miscellaneous items. Bidding for each auction loosely closes over several days next week. Those interested in bidding just need to create an account on the website and browse the items listed.