Ritchie Bros has conducted its first unreserved agricultural auction in the U.S.A. since acquiring Buxton-based Dennis Biliske Auctioneers.

The multi-million dollar unreserved agricultural auction, which featured over 375 lots, was held February 23 in Buxton, North Dakota and attracted over 850 interested bidders from 27 U.S. states plus six other countries. Internet bidders using the rbauctionBid-Live real-time bidding service were the winner or runner-up on 17% of the lots available online.

In addition to the agricultural equipment, the Buxton sale included four separate real estate lots. More than 500 acres of tillable farmland in Polk County, MN were sold by photograph. Unreserved public auctions of agricultural real estate are uncommon in the U.S., but are increasingly well received by Ritchie Bros. customers. Real estate auctions have been identified as a growth category for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers and as such, our customers can expect increased opportunities to purchase real estate by our unreserved method.

“It was a great auction,” said Area Manager Dennis Biliske. “For our first sale here, it was all that we expected and more. We were pleased to see the large crowd on auction day - both new Ritchie Bros. customers and former Dennis Biliske Auctioneers customers attended the sale - and we look forward to serving them all in the future.”

There are over 100 Ritchie Bros. unreserved agricultural auctions currently scheduled for 2006, including sales in Greenbush, MN on March 16; Bathgate, ND on March 28; St Thomas, ND on March 29; and Lakota, ND on April 5.

Details on all upcoming Ritchie Bros. agricultural auctions, including equipment listings, are available at rbauction.com.

About Ritchie Bros.

Ritchie Bros. is the world’s largest auctioneer of industrial equipment, operating through over 110 locations in more than 25 countries around the world. The Company sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broad range of used and unused industrial equipment including equipment utilized in the construction, transportation, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum, marine, real estate, and agricultural industries. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com.

Posted: 02|28|06 at 11:51 am. Filed under: US News.