A Nebraska grandmother's rare find brings in a staggering $32,000 on her 91st birthday, but it almost didn't happen. Lois Jurgens, 91, almost considered selling her weathered crock at a garage sale, where it likely wouldn’t have been worth more than $50. But fate had other plans. Around the same time she began considering parting with the 30-gallon Red Wing Stoneware crock, the Bramer Auction and Realty announced it was holding a sale exclusively comprised of antique crocks. The auction house’s owner, Ken Bramer, was initially skeptical about including Jurgens' large crock. However, when he visited her home, he instantly knew he had found a treasure. The crock bore two distinct stamps, which were rarely featured on Red Wing crocks, and immediately increased its value in the eyes of a die-hard collector. Jurgens herself estimated that Bramer could sell it for around $100, but Bramer assured her that she was "going to be surprised." When auction day arrived, Jurgens couldn’t attend due to her 91st birthday celebrations at her local church. By the time she arrived at the fairgrounds, the bidding war had concluded, and the final price tag was revealed: $32,000. Bramer shared that Jurgens was overwhelmed with emotion and needed assistance to get onto the stage after hearing the news. This sale marked one of the most exciting moments in Jurgens' 91 years of life.
