ESTEVAN - Norm Mack, Brain Mack, Norm Klatt and their team have been in the auction world for over 30 years.
In 2004, the three partners started up Mack Auction Company and this year they celebrate 20 years of business.
Norm Mack began his auctioneering career with another company, and auctioneering just came naturally to him.
The owners of this company were born and raised on Saskatchewan farms. They all have experience in the field, felt they could provide a service in agriculture, and they understood the need for auctions.
Located in the southeast, they have a team of eight staff members that have been with the company for many years and have previous auction experience.
Their auctioneers are energetic, licensed professionals that work fairly and honestly for the buyer and seller.
Auctions were once held on the farm and the auction equipment was set up for a live sale. They have a mobile company that can go anywhere at any time.
Everything was taken care of by the professional staff, like advertising, pre-sale setup, lunch counters and washrooms.
The sale lasted for one day and the weather did not always co-operate. Weather conditions could interfere with attendance.
The Mack Auction Company specializes in farm and land sales, and over the years has continued to grow.
Before COVID-19 hit, they started to hold online auctions. This process is similar in some respects.
The equipment is cleaned and neatly lined up. Hundreds of photos are taken, which includes serial numbers and any other essential information needed from the equipment. This usually takes the team a day to complete if all goes well.
The photos are uploaded into a software program.
People pre-register through the company before the sale, and once approved, they can bid when the online auction begins.
It runs for five days and each time a person bids on an item with a previous bid, an email or text message is sent through a program.
If, in the last two minutes before closing time, a person bids, the clock is automatically reset for another two minutes, to give people a chance to bid once again. When two minutes have lapsed, and no one bids, the auction is then closed on that item.
If they wish, items may still be viewed at the farmers' place or where the items are held before and during the sale.
Mack said online auctions began because farmers are busy, and they do not have time to wait all day at a sale for an item. This way they can view the equipment online at their leisure and in their spare time, and they have five days to do so.
When COVID-19 hit, the online auctions took off and proved to be remarkably successful and much easier for the farmer, especially with the restrictions in place.
Once the deadline is reached and payment is made, a day is set aside for buyers to pick up their merchandise.
With online auctions, inclement weather is no longer an issue.
Land auctions are immensely popular online. The farmer is getting the true value of their land, and it is fair for all involved.
To buy land in Saskatchewan, one must be a Canadian citizen, but the land that is selling in the province is remaining with surrounding farmers to either increase their own land or for family to get started.
Mack said it is great to see land owners remain in the province, as he feels that Saskatchewan has great agricultural property.
All their sales get worldwide acknowledgement as they post them all on their website so nobody is left out.
The company are also great supporters of local organizations and charities.
Mack Auction Company has already had a busy start to their year, and with the phones continuing to ring, the company will remain active.
