Every spring, Ritchie Bros. holds dozens of farm retirement dispersals across western Canada. Traditionally, the company would drive from farm to farm as a travelling auction company, but all bidding has been conducted online via timed auction or with an auctioneer this year.

“We registered more than 160,000 bidders and attracted more than 1.6 million online equipment views for our spring 2021 agricultural events,” Jordan Clarke, sales director at Ritchie Bros., said. “As a result, equipment pricing in March and April was very strong in Canada, with buyers pushing hard on almost every asset category.”

“We were new to the online auction process, so we had a lot of questions, and they were always there for us,” Larry and Jean Hamilton, who sold farmland on April 5 and 6 in Saskatoon, SK, said. “The entire process was handled in a very professional manner and the end results were above and beyond our expectations.”

This spring, in 30 days, Ritchie Bros. conducted 71 farm auctions, generating more than C$104 million ($85.81 million) in gross transaction value. Equipment highlights included more than 230 tractors, more than 140 combines, more than 110 air drills, more than 675 grain bins and farmland.

“All of the Ritchie Bros. employees were friendly, easy to work with and very accommodating,” LeRoy and Karen Sonnenberg, who sold more than 75 items via timed auction on April 9, said. “We were very pleased with the process and the outcome from our auction. Ritchie Bros. are excellent to work with from start to finish.”

Specific sales highlights from Ritchie Bros.’ spring events included a 2020 Claas 8700 combine that sold in Bowsman, MB, via timed auction for C$500,000 ($412,540); a 2018 John Deere R4045 120-ft high clearance sprayer that sold via auctioneer in Regina, SK, for C$445,000 ($367,160); and a 2018 Versatile 610DT track tractor that sold via timed auction in Eatonia, SK, for C$410,000 ($338,280).

“Thank you, Ritchie Bros., for a first-class auction and an excellent result,” Kerry Peterson, who sold more than 175 items in a timed auction on April 10, said.