1,417-acre Mitchell County farm hits market for first time in 127 years

L.H. Hays Farms in Mitchell County, Georgia, is being offered by sealed bid on Dec. 15, 2026, in one of the largest farmland listings in Southwest Georgia. The 1,417-acre property includes irrigated cropland, timber and wildlife habitat, with buyers able to bid on tracts, combinations or the full farm.

Why it matters: - L.H. Hays Farms, Inc. is being marketed as a rare, investment-grade agricultural property in a region known for row crops, sweet corn and strong peanut yields. - The 1,417-acre offering gives buyers flexibility to acquire a single tract, a combination of tracts or the full property. - The farm combines irrigated cropland, timber value and wildlife habitat, creating multiple potential income and use streams.

What happened: - The Wright Group announced a sealed bid sale for L.H. Hays Farms, Inc. in Mitchell County, Georgia. - Bids are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 15, 2026. - The property is located near the Flint River in Southwest Georgia. - The farm has been in the same family for more than 127 years.

The details: - The property spans 1,417± acres across seven tracts. - Individual tracts range from 90 acres to the entire property. - The farm includes seven center pivots, each with its own deep well. - The land is described as highly productive irrigated farmland. - Nearly every acre not in cultivation is planted in mixed-age pine stands. - The timber is managed to provide a second income stream. - The property supports deer, turkey and quail populations. - Buyers may submit bids by email to bids@wrightbroker.com. - The sale is subject to a reserve and seller confirmation. - A bid package with maps, tract details and terms is available at wrightbroker.com. - Property tours are available by appointment.

Between the lines: - The farm’s mix of irrigated ground, timber and wildlife habitat broadens its appeal beyond a single type of buyer. - Selling the property in tracts can make the offering accessible to operators, investors and recreational buyers who do not want the full acreage. - The listing leans on the farm’s long family ownership and Centennial Family Farm status to frame the property as both an operating asset and a legacy holding. - In 2002, Georgia named L.H. Hays Farms a Georgia Centennial Family Farm, an honor for farms kept by the same family for at least 100 years. - Luther Henry “L.H.” Hays, Jr. accepted the award. - Hays and his wife, Wilma, raised five children on the farm and in the Hopeful community. - The family says the land moved from the mule-and-cotton era into a modern irrigated operation.

What's next: - Buyers can review the bid package, inspect the property by appointment and submit sealed bids before the Dec. 15 deadline. - The seller will confirm the final sale after reserve requirements are met. - The Wright Group is handling the offering and has asked interested buyers to contact Ben McCollum or the brokerage for more information.

The bottom line: - The Mitchell County farm is a rare chance to buy large-scale irrigated acreage in Southwest Georgia, with added timber, wildlife and legacy value.