An alliance started five years ago is growing again to better serve auctioneers and those interested in buying real estate around Illinois, and the agribusiness industry. 

1st Farm Credit Services and Farm Credit Services of Illinois (FCS) are partnering with the Illinois State Auctioneers Association to create “one-stop shopping” for auctions in Illinois. 

The jointly managed Farm Credit website, www.usfarmcredit.com, will house auction listings in Illinois.  Beth Mays at the Farm Credit Services of Illinois office will post all sales. Listings will be accepted over the phone, by e-mail or mail, and will be posted free of charge.

“We were finding out a that a lot of farmers are getting more and more technically advanced when looking for information about their business,” said Mike Loyd, Vice President, FCS of Illinois.  “This site will allow farmers to look at what land is selling, where it is selling at, and then they can go into that auctioneer’s web site to find more about it.”

“Our goal is to get all land auctions in Illinois posted on our web site prior to the auction,” said Lonnie Doan, 1st Farm Credit Services Vice President.  Doan noted that they will pull initially from FarmWeek and Illinois AGRINEWS ads to make the listing complete.

Auctioneers must sign a release before information will be posted online.  These release forms can be picked up at any 1st Farm Credit Services branch office, or by calling 1-800-444-FARM.  Once the appropriate release is signed, fax, email or mail the sale bill to any 1st FCS branch or to Mays and the information will be entered into the system. (See insert for Mays contact information.)

In exchange, Farm Credit asks the auctioneers to post the web site, www.usfarmcredit.com, on the bottom of all sale bills.

“The point is to publicize the auctioneers and their auctions,” said Doan.  “We hope that by putting one person on the job to receive information, getting the auctions online will be easy.”

A history of partnerships

The alliance between the two organizations began 5 years ago with Farm Credit participating in the Illinois Auctioneers annual meetings and summer and fall meetings.  Farm Credit employees were on hand at the meeting trade shows.

The relationship grew two years later when FCS began sponsoring the state bid calling contest at the Illinois State Fair.

“The bid calling contest allows auctioneers to concentrate on what they do best,” said Loyd.  “We get exposure and have a chance to assist them.  The event has a great turnout and the competition is phenomenal.”

FCS sponsors the event by buying the items that the auctioneers use to bid.  The money raised during the auction competitions is used to support the auctioneers’ foundation and association.

Doan and Loyd traveled to the National Auctioneers Association Meeting, held in to Madison, Wisc. this past July.  Partnering with the Badgerland Farm Credit Services, the group handed out bottled water to people attending the National Auctioneers Association Meeting, during the “taste of Wisconsin” meal.

“There were 2000 auctioneers in Madison for the annual convention.” said Doan. ”Our presence was important. We were received a lot of positive feedback.”