DPA Auctions Takes the Distance Out of Buying and Selling Farm Equipment

October 16, 2026

Whether it's a tractor, combine, livestock trailer or specialized piece of haying equipment, selling machinery can be a challenge for farmers and ranchers, especially in rural areas where potential buyers may be hundreds of miles away.

But according to Doug Rickett, a senior executive with DPA Auctions, online equipment auctions are changing how agricultural producers buy and sell machinery by eliminating geographical barriers and bringing buyers and sellers together across the country.

Rickett, who has spent 38 years with the company, says DPA Auctions has deep roots in rural America.

“DPA is actually an acronym for what maybe some people remember as Dell Petersen and Associates, and it was founded by Dell Petersen in 1972,” Rickett explained. “We did live auctions all across the West, the Midwest and a little bit east of the Mississippi.”

More than five decades later, Rickett says the company continues to operate with the same family-oriented philosophy that helped establish its reputation.

“We're still a family business, family-run. We have family values, and we're all from small towns,” he said.

Equipment Stays on the Farm or Ranch

One of the biggest advantages of DPA's online auction format, Rickett says, is that equipment doesn't have to be transported to a central auction location before it's sold.

He compares the concept to video livestock marketing, a system familiar to many Western cattle producers.

“The equipment that you're selling, just like your cattle when you sell them on Superior Livestock, stays right there at your location,” Rickett said. “You don't have to haul it anywhere.”

That convenience can be particularly valuable across the West, where long distances between farms, ranches and equipment dealerships can make buying and selling machinery expensive and time-consuming.

Rickett says the benefits extend to buyers as well.

“They don't have to read a classified ad and say, ‘Hey, I'm going to drive a couple hours and go look at this tractor or this semi-truck or this baler,’” he explained.

Instead, prospective buyers can review detailed online listings, compare equipment and place bids without spending an entire day traveling to an auction.

“It's just a much more efficient use of time,” Rickett said.

Reaching Buyers Beyond the Local Market

Rickett believes one of the most significant benefits of online equipment auctions is the ability to connect sellers with buyers who might never see their equipment advertised locally.

In traditional sales, farmers and ranchers may be limited to buyers within their immediate area. Online auctions open the door to potential customers nationwide.

“We kind of eliminate the distance factor with the internet, bringing buyers and sellers together,” Rickett said.

For example, a piece of equipment located in Montana or Wyoming might attract interest from buyers in Nebraska, Texas, Tennessee or other states.

Rickett says that broader exposure can be especially important when local agricultural conditions affect equipment demand.

“We want to bring more specific buyers that are looking just for what you're looking to sell,” he said. “And that's going to mean better value for the equipment.”

He points to specialized machinery, including large square balers, as equipment that can benefit from nationwide marketing.

“Specialized equipment isn't just everywhere,” Rickett explained. “Guys that are looking for something specific and special, the internet works great for that.”

Accurate Information Builds Buyer Confidence

Although purchasing equipment online may raise concerns about buying machinery without personally inspecting it, Rickett says detailed descriptions and transparency are essential to making the process work.

DPA Auctions encourages sellers to provide extensive photographs, equipment hours, mileage, serial numbers and accurate descriptions of each item.

“A good listing of a piece of equipment is going to have 40, 50, 60 pictures of it, kind of depending a little bit on what it is,” Rickett said.

Just as important, he says, is making sure buyers understand the condition of the equipment, including any mechanical problems or damage.

“We want to know the good, the bad and the ugly,” Rickett emphasized. “If it's got a problem, we want that to be known to the potential buyer as well.”

He says honesty helps protect both buyers and sellers from unexpected problems after the sale.

“We'd rather lose a buyer than have them surprised when they show up,” Rickett said. “We want to be honest. We want to be accurate.”

DPA also provides contact information for equipment owners so prospective buyers can ask questions directly or arrange an inspection before bidding.

How the Auction Process Works

For farmers and ranchers interested in selling equipment, Rickett says the process begins with a conversation about what they have available and where it's located.

Whether someone has a single livestock trailer or several pieces of farm machinery, DPA works with sellers to collect photographs, equipment specifications and descriptions.

Listings typically appear on the company's website for two to three weeks before the auction concludes.

Unlike some auction companies that advertise exclusively absolute auctions, DPA allows sellers to establish reserve prices.

“We do allow reserves,” Rickett explained. “We don't advertise that ours are all absolute because they're not.”

Rickett says that flexibility can be especially valuable for equipment dealers and sellers who need to protect a minimum investment in their machinery.

The company also offers a live-board feature designed to recreate some of the excitement of a traditional auction.

“It gives as close to an auction feel, I think, as you can get with an online auction,” Rickett said.

Same Service, Regardless of Location

For Rickett, serving producers in remote agricultural communities means providing the same attention to detail whether equipment is located in Montana, Nebraska or anywhere else in the country.

“Whether it's in Billings, Montana, or in Fremont, Nebraska, that description needs to be the same,” he said.

He emphasizes that accurate photographs, videos, specifications and equipment identification are important regardless of where a seller lives.

“We don't have a program for the varsity and one for the JV,” Rickett said. “Everybody's on varsity. Everybody gets the same treatment. There are no shortcuts.”

Online Auctions Every Two Weeks

DPA Auctions conducts online auctions every two weeks and offers several resources to help buyers and sellers research equipment values.

Rickett encourages producers to visit the company's website, where they can review auction results dating back 10 years to see what comparable machinery has sold for.

The company has also introduced a free online equipment valuation feature.

“That's something we've just added in the last six weeks,” Rickett said. “It's something that we've developed here in-house, and you can do that for free.”

For farmers and ranchers who prefer speaking directly with someone, Rickett says personal service remains a priority.

“Call our office at (800) 492-9090. You're going to talk to a live person. It's not going to be a call center,” he said.

After more than five decades serving agricultural communities, Rickett believes DPA's combination of technology, transparency and personal relationships continues to offer producers a practical way to market equipment.

For more information, upcoming auctions, past auction results or a free equipment valuation, visit DPAAuctions.com or call 800-492-9090.

Source: Western Ag Network