Calvary Lutheran

Dale Fladeboe, left, and his children and partners in Fladeboe Land, Kristine Fladeboe Duininck and Glen Fladeboe, lead the auction on Dec. 21, 2021, in Atwater, where farmland given to Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar by the late Jerome “Jerry” Anderson was sold for more than $4.5 million. The company, founded almost 44 years ago, has specialized in farm land sales for two decades.

Pastor Dean Johnson of Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar said he had yet to get to his second cup of coffee at the auction and the bid price for the land had already jumped from its $8,500-per-acre starting point to $9,500.

More than 40 bidders participated in the Dec. 21, 2021, land auction in Atwater for the parcels gifted to Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar by the estate of Jerry Anderson. The auction attracted interest from local, state and national bidders.

Strong interest was anticipated for the auction on Dec. 2, 2021, in Atwater. Farmland values are strong, and the property gifted to Calvary Lutheran Church by the late Jerry Anderson was recognized for its quality.