Merle & Connie Blair turn to Ritchie Bros. for momentous farm auction
Friday, May 10, 2024
Reference: Sponsored Article
Opportunities to buy farmland like Merle and Connie Blair’s Plover Lake Ranch don’t come around often.
The longtime family-owned farm in Youngstown, Alberta, was in operation since 1944 and came with both pasture and cultivation leases. It featured over 17,700 acres of versatile agricultural land and a complete lineup of equipment.
Merle and Connie trusted Ritchie Bros. to sell their farmland and equipment in a big, two-day auction March 13-14, 2024. Over 2,400 registered bidders participated in the auction from across the globe. The auction was a massive success that earned over $18.7 million!
“We were looking for somebody as a selling partner who had integrity and is fun to work with,” said Merle Blair. “We found all those things in the Ritchie Bros. team.”
The farm featured an annual SLR (Surface Lease Revenue) of ±$127,390, along with an array of John Deer equipment, including tractors and combines. There were structures and equipment in place to handle a head of over 500 cattle, along with water wells, grain and fertilizer storage, and a machine shop with storage.
Ritchie Bros.’ powerful global marketing and buyer demand generation meant Merle was getting exposure for those assets in different markets across Canada and the United States.
“I got calls from everywhere, including Washington State,” said Merle. “It was very far-reaching advertising and interest in the sale. There were days when I couldn’t keep up with the calls.”
Over Ritchie Bros.’ 60-plus years in business, the company has sold hundreds of thousands of acres of property across Canada, including farmland, commercial, recreational, and residential properties. In fact, in the last five years alone, Ritchie Bros. has sold more than 110,000 title acres of farmland.
Ritchie Bros.’ customers get the power of flexibility and choice in the process, and their Real Estate team can put together a customized plan to meet sellers’ needs, timeline, and goals – whether it’s certainty of sale or control over price and timing.
“Going through Ritchie Bros. allowed us to have an end date for our farm selling, and not wonder what our next step was,” said Mark Blair, son of Merle and Connie.
Ritchie Bros.’ upcoming Western Canada Real Estate Event on June 11 offers buyers a great opportunity to bid on farmland, residential acreage, commercial property and more in this unreserved online Timed Auction – meaning no minimum bids or reserve prices. Learn more about the event at rbauction.com/real-estate
If you’re considering selling real estate, contact one of Ritchie Bros.’ Real Estate representatives today: Email: realestate@ritchiebros.com | Phone: +1-866-490-3081
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the customer,” said Luke Fritshaw, Director, Sales, Ritchie Bros. “And getting the opportunity to work with Merle and Connie and family though this whole process, it’s a huge thank you for trusting us in such a huge project and such a huge life event for them. Being part of that event with them is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.”
Whether you’re an individual seller or a business, Ritchie Bros. is ready to help sell any size and any type of property. Your success is their goal, and their team has the expertise, decades of experience, and unparalleled ability to reach buyers across the country and around the world, and exceed your expectations.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Danny Strayer South Alberta & BC 1-780-296-3765 dstrayer@ritchiebros.com |
Ivan Abelar North Alberta 1-587-873-0898 iabelar@ritchiebros.com |
Derek Mason South Saskatchewan & Manitoba 1-204-558-4758 dmason@ritchiebros.com |
Chad Smith North & Central Saskatchewan 1-639-994-3394 chadsmith@ritchiebros.com |