Ritchie Bros. to conduct unreserved agricultural auction for Northern Black Angus in Kamloops

• Press Release
• Source: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
• On 10:00 am EDT, Thursday October 8, 2009

<< Black Angus cattle, John Deere farming equipment and 375 acres of agricultural land to be sold to the highest bidders >>

KAMLOOPS, BC, Oct. 8 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA - News News), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, is conducting a complete dispersal unreserved auction for Northern Black Angus, a cattle-farming operation located near Kamloops, BC. The unreserved auction will be held on the Northern Black Angus ranch on Thursday, October 15 starting at 10:00 a.m. (local time). Every item at the public auction will be sold to the highest bidders on auction day, with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

"Trevor White, the owner of Northern Black Angus, has been a long-time customer of Ritchie Bros. and we're very pleased he has chosen us to conduct this dispersal for him and his family," said Simon Wallan, VP, Canada Agriculture, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "The complete sale of a cattle operation of this calibre is not as common here as it is in Alberta or Saskatchewan. This dispersal presents Ritchie Bros. buyers with a unique opportunity to source agricultural equipment here in BC."

The White family has been involved in the farming and cattle business for 13 years, operating another farm in Smithers, BC since 1996 where they migrated towards breeding Black Angus cattle. The family expanded their cattle-farming operation three years ago with the purchase of the Northern Black Angus ranch near Kamloops, eventually building up their herd and selling bulls and heifers in BC purebred sales. Recently, though, the family decided to sell the cattle business and relocate to Vancouver Island to start a new logging company.

"As a logging and road building contractor and a farmer, I've purchased and sold millions of dollars worth of equipment through Ritchie Bros. for close to 20 years," says Trevor White. "I've always done well using their services and over that time, have established a very good working relationship with the company. Ritchie Bros. was the only choice for this dispersal."

The auction will feature the sale of two parcels of agricultural land totalling approximately 375 acres located just minutes north of Kamloops, in the heart of South Central BC. The first parcel being sold is 234.3 acres and features an irrigation license and services and is located on the west side of the Yellowhead South Hwy No. 5 and adjacent to the North Thompson River. The second parcel of land is 141 acres on the east side of Yellowhead South Hwy No. 5. Further details about the properties are available at http://www.rbauction.com/property/2009547_kamloops_bc/index.jsp.

More than 400 items of equipment and livestock will also be sold as part of the complete dispersal. Equipment includes John Deere MFWD, 2WD and utility tractors, mowers, haying equipment and a skid steer loader. Other items featured in the sale include landscaping, seeding and livestock equipment, recreational vehicles, trucks and trailers and cattle handling equipment.

Livestock being sold includes 114 purebred registered Black Angus cattle including calves, yearlings and herd bulls. A selection of embryos and straws of semen used in artificial livestock breeding will also be sold. "Black Angus cattle are very adaptable to a North American climate because the breed originates from northern England," says White. "They are currently the most desirable and widely used breed of cattle in North America." A complete catalogue of the cattle being sold in the auction is available at

http://www.rbauction.com/auction_locations_pages/pdf/NBADispersal_Web.pdf

Interested buyers can participate in the auction in-person at the auction site, online via rbauction.com or by phoning the auction site ahead of the auction to place a proxy bid. The auction starts on the site at 10 a.m., with the live internet broadcast starting at 12 p.m. Smaller miscellaneous farm items will be sold on-site only starting at 10 a.m. Real estate will be sold at noon, followed by farm equipment and then cattle.

	    Auction details:
	    ----------------
	    -   Location: Northern Black Angus farm
	    -   Directions to auction site: from KAMLOOPS, on Hwy 5, go 29 km
	        (18 miles) North, Farm on West side of Hwy
	    -   Auction site tel: +1.800.491.4494 Auction site fax: +1.780.532.5133
	    -   Time and date: Thursday, October 15, 2009 starting at 10:00 a.m.
	    -   Open to the public; registration to bid is free
	    -   Visit the auction site to register to bid in person a few days prior
	        to the auction (registration will take place on auction day too);
	        photo I.D. is required. Customers can inspect equipment during
	        regular business hours leading up to the auction
	    -   Internet bidders must register online before auction day at
	        www.rbauction.com; at least 2-3 business days is recommended for
	        first-time internet bidders.
	    -   Phone the auction site to place a proxy bid. Phone +1.800.491.4494
	    -   Equipment details, including photos, are available at
	        www.rbauction.com
	    

About Ritchie Bros.

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA - News News) is the world's largest industrial auctioneer, selling more equipment to on-site and online bidders than any other company in the world. The Company has over 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 39 auction sites worldwide. Ritchie Bros. sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broad range of used and unused industrial assets, including equipment, trucks and other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, agricultural, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum and marine industries. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com and sponsors an equipment wiki at www.RitchieWiki.com.

For further information

Kim Schulz, Manager, Corporate Communications, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Cell: (604) 788-5379 or email kschulz@rbauction.com Or Simon Wallan, VP, Canada Agriculture, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Cell: (780) 831-8529

Buzz up!