Auctions can be a good opportunity for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers looking to sell equipment, livestock supplies or other items, according to Ken Carpenter, owner of Ken Carpenter Auction and Realty. Carpenter spoke with Associate Farm Reporter Carli Davenport about the auction process, what agricultural equipment is selling well, and what farmers can expect from his upcoming fall consignment auction.
Competitive Bidding Helps Sellers Reach Buyers
For sellers who have never used an auction before, Carpenter said the biggest advantage is competitive bidding and the marketing that goes into getting items in front of potential buyers. “Well, if you’re a seller, you definitely want to have an auction because we have competitive bidding, and we market your items,” Carpenter said.
He said his company uses several different avenues to advertise consignments, including newspapers, its website, email lists, and estate sale websites. “So we’re marketing your merchandise, and we are paying for marketing, and we want the most for your item because we work on a commission,” Carpenter said. “So our goal is to get the most money for your items in a competitive market.”
Livestock Equipment Strong in Current Market
While the types of equipment that perform well can change throughout the year, Carpenter said livestock-related items are particularly strong in the current agricultural market. “Well, it changes with the seasons, but right now, cattle stuff is just exceptionally high,” he said. “Anything to do with livestock sells wonderfully right now.”
Carpenter attributed some of that demand to current commodity markets. “With the cattle market high and the wheat market a little bit off, cattle stuff, I would say is the high stuff to sell in today’s market,” he said. That includes equipment and supplies used by cattle producers, who may be looking for ways to expand, replace or upgrade what they already have on their farms and ranches.
Auction Company Handles Marketing and Preparation
Carpenter said sellers also have the option of letting his auction company handle much of the preparation and marketing process. “If you’ve got a tractor, car, or something of great value, we’re going to have it detailed,” Carpenter said. “We’re going to clean it up. We’re going to take good pictures.”
Depending on the item, the company may also create video content to give potential buyers a better look. “We may even do a video of it running or just however it was the best, the best way to market that item,” he said.
The goal, Carpenter said, is to give each item as much exposure as possible. “And we’re going to market that item worldwide to get the best value for that item,” Carpenter said.
Fall Can Be a Good Time to Sell Farm Equipment
Carpenter said his upcoming fall consignment auction could be particularly useful for farmers and ranchers who have equipment they no longer need or who are looking to upgrade. “Fall’s been a great time in the past to sell equipment,” he said.
He said one reason is that farmers and ranchers may have more time to look for equipment after the busier spring and summer seasons. “We got people looking for tax deductions,” Carpenter said. “It’s a slower time of year for farmers, especially with the livestock stuff.” That can create demand for a variety of livestock-related equipment.
He added that some producers may also be looking to upgrade equipment. “They might be looking to upgrade a tractor with a load or something like that to take care of their livestock,” he said.
According to Carpenter, the timing of fall can make it a good season for both buyers and sellers. “A little cooler, people a little slower,” he said. “It’s not a hectic time of spring and summer, and it’s been a great time to market your items.”
Farmers Don’t Need a Whole Line of Equipment to Consign
Farmers and ranchers don’t have to bring an entire line of equipment to participate in the auction. “We’ll take just one thing,” Carpenter said.
He said his company can arrange to have an item hauled to its auction yard, where it can be prepared and displayed for potential buyers. “We’ll get it hauled in here where we can show it, where we can clean it up, where we can get the maximum exposure for it,” Carpenter said.
That setup can also make the selling process easier for producers who don’t want to personally deal with potential buyers. “That way the seller doesn’t have to deal with the buyers that are coming to look or have to answer any questions,” Carpenter said.
While sellers are welcome to provide input, Carpenter said some prefer to let the auction company handle those interactions. “We’re always welcome their input if they want, but a lot of people don’t want to talk to potential buyers,” he said. “They want us to handle all that.”
Thousands of Items Expected at Fall Consignment Auction
Carpenter said this year’s fall consignment auction is expected to feature a wide variety of items, including agricultural equipment and livestock supplies. “We’re gonna have an abundance of a lot of stuff,” he said. “We’re gonna have a lot of tools. We’re gonna have some equipment, cars, trucks, or all.”
Livestock equipment will also be part of the auction. “We’ll have livestock equipment. We’ll have a good, good variety of a lot of different stuff,” Carpenter said.
He said the auction typically features thousands of individual items. “We usually have around 3000 items, and we shut the auction off not to take anything over 3000 items,” Carpenter said.
Fall Consignment Auction Set for Mustang
The fall consignment auction will be held at 524 South Clear Springs Road in Mustang, which Carpenter said provides convenient access for buyers from across central Oklahoma. “It’s a really, really good location, Central Oklahoma,” he said. “We are close to I-40 in Yukon, its an easy on and off.”
Carpenter said buyers can visit the location to inspect items before bidding and even bid online from home. “People coming from anywhere can come down, look at stuff before the auction,” he said.
For buyers who purchase items, Carpenter said delivery and pickup options will be available. “If they get it bought, we can deliver it to them, or they can come pick it up,” he said.
Consignment Begins September 8
Carpenter said the auction company will begin accepting consignments September 8th, with the online auction closing September 28th. Pickup will follow the auction over the next two days.
The auction company will also be available to assist buyers with loading their purchases. “We’ll have help to load stuff if you need it,” Carpenter said. “We’ll have skid steers or tractors to help load stuff on your trailers.”
Carpenter said he expects the fall consignment to offer something for a wide range of buyers. “It’ll be a great auction,” he said.
Farmers, ranchers and other sellers interested in consigning equipment can contact Ken Carpenter Auction and Realty through kencarpenterauction.com.
Carpenter said the company conducts frequent auctions throughout the year. “We do about one to six auctions a week,” he said. “You’re welcome to email me, call or text me any way you want. You can look at the auctions we got going.” “We’ll be happy to answer any questions that you’ve got,” Carpenter said.
