My 4020 Story: The $406,000 John Deere 4020

In the fall of 2020, Mayo Clinic became a prominent player for family-owned and operated Sullivan Auctioneers, LLC. This was when part-owner Michael Sullivan, then 32, began feeling sick. Michael was in and out of local hospitals before being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Michael turned to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where he was immediately admitted and started chemotherapy and radiation. Despite leaving an expectant wife and two children at home in Hamilton, IL, doctors told Michael that he would likely remain at Mayo until spring of 2021.

In addition to his chemotherapy and radiation, Michael would need a bone marrow transplant. Neither of Michael’s sisters were a perfect match, yet doctors were confident there would be a match in the World Wide Registry of Donors. Oddly enough, they assured Michael a match would likely come from someone outside of the U.S. since being a donor is not required in the United States like it is in some other countries. A month later, doctors reported that they were unable to find a match on the registry. The best option was to use Michael’s sister Grace’s bone marrow. Grace was in the hospital harvesting marrow over Christmas and assured that donating marrow to help save her brother’s life was “the best Christmas gift she could ever give.” On February 12, 2021, Michael had his bone marrow transplant and remained in the hospital another 100 days post-transplant.

To show their gratitude for the care Michael received at Mayo, Sullivan Auctioneers held a benefit with 100% of the proceeds going to Mayo Clinic for Cancer Research. Initially, they considered selling a John Deere Gator, but plans evolved to feature the sale of a company-owned, vintage, 1972 John Deere 4020 tractor.

“The 4020 is kind of an icon; everyone wants a 4020, so we decided to auction that,” said Dan Sullivan, part-owner of Sullivan Auctioneers and Michael’s father.

At the benefit event, the tractor was first purchased for $250,000 by a group of farmers and investors who donated the tractor back. Next, it was purchased for $100,000 and again donated back. In the final round, it was purchased for $56,000 adding up to a total sale of $406,000. This, along with the sale of smaller items and cash donations made up over $500,000 which was all given to Mayo Clinic for leukemia research.

In addition to raising money, the event educated those in attendance on Be The Match (bethematch.org) which manages marrow registry throughout the world. “We want everybody to get into the registry,” Dan said, encouraging: “Go to bethematch.org.”

Thanks to the work of doctors, nurses and researchers at Mayo and the prayers of many, Michael is in recovery, back home with his family, back to work at Sullivan Auctioneers, and back for regular visits at Mayo.

“Everybody comes together,” Dan said about the event and Michael’s overall experience. “That’s what’s so great about rural America.”

Story written by Mark Sullivan. Have a 4020 story to share with Prairie State Tractor? We're collecting John Deere 4020 tractor stories to help promote our new 4020 special inspection program. Plus, our favorite entry will get their 4020 inspected for free. Click here for all the details on how to submit your own story. To schedule a 4020 special inspection for only $195, click here and complete the form.