By KALEY LYON

klyon@dailynews.net

Nearly 2,000 acres of Ellis County farmland were sold at auction Friday.

The land, previously owned by York College of York, Neb., is located southwest of Hays and has been leased for wind energy development.

About 1,760 acres of the land are subject to a wind lease entered with Hays Wind. These rights have been transferred to the new property owners.

Hays Wind, headed by Iberdrola Renewable Energies, has been granted a conditional-use permit from Ellis County commissioners to construct a 200-megawatt project south and southwest of Hays. This decision has been challenged in district court.

The land was willed to York College following the 2003 death of Ellis County resident Donald Kraus. The college, which wasn't looking to get too involved in farming, decided the time was right to sell, said Todd Sheldon, vice president of finance.

"Property values were good here in Kansas at this time, and it just seemed like a good time for us," Sheldon said.

The university will maintain mineral rights.

The 1,800 acres of land was divided into seven tracts, and the property brought a total of almost $1.4 million.

The auction was held by Farm & Ranch Realty, based in Colby.