Predictions pointed to a slowdown. The Upper Midwest answered with record-setting land sales, resilient equipment demand, and grassland values that surged on the back of a powerful cattle market. We break down why 2025 refused to dip and how smart marketing, live auctions, and confident buyers kept the momentum rolling.

We walk through the year, from a fast start in Pembina and Traill Counties to a standout run in Cass County, where multiple quarters hit five-figure per-acre prices. Minnesota held a tight $8,000 to $8,700 band across thousands of acres, and South Dakota delivered wins where they mattered most: local operators secured legacy tracts, irrigated ground topped expectations at $11,500 per acre, and pasture demand accelerated as supply tightened. In the Black Hills, a rare Custer County property with direct views of Mount Rushmore demonstrated how scenery, access, and adjacency to Custer State Park can create its own category of value.

On the iron side, the story was condition and representation. Magnum 310s, 8R410s, and S770 combines led a strong set of results, proving that clean, well-documented machines still command premium bids—even with historically high combine inventories. Livestock strength spilled into machinery, lifting loaders, balers, rakes, and portable panels. Most importantly, shifting our Upper Midwest sale from timed online to a live, multi-platform format unlocked fivefold growth, blended the urgency of the chant with nationwide reach, and showed exactly how to build competition without forcing consignors to move equipment.

You’ll hear how we structure complex multi-parcel ranches by following natural boundaries—water, fence, power, access—to protect legacy while widening the buyer pool. We also unpack a simple truth: fewer registered bidders doesn’t mean fewer buyers when confidence is high and information is clear. If you care about farmland values, pasture demand, high-horsepower tractors, and the future of live auctions, this recap is your roadmap for 2026.

Enjoyed the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a quick review. Share this episode with a friend who watches land and equipment markets as closely as you do.

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook
Contact the team at Pifer's

The roar of engines is just the opening note. What started as a handful of car lovers swapping stories in the 1970s has become a weekend that fills Bowman’s Main Street, books every hotel, and draws families from across the Upper Midwest. We sit down with Ryan Shear and Kevin Hilton from the Dakota Territory Car Club to share how a leadership reset and a back-to-basics approach transformed a small-town show into a regional anchor between Bismarck-Mandan and Cool Deadwood Nights.

We dig into the club’s secret sauce: show up, help out, and make it easy for people to belong. Membership swelled from a few dozen to nearly 200, with more than half joining for the social life as much as the chrome. Along the way, the club turned community need into action—staffing parades, serving burgers at show-and-shines, running indoor trunk-or-treat when the weather bites, and raising over $14,000 in one evening for a local medical benefit. That service-first mindset powers a weekend designed for neighbors and travelers alike: Friday night socials with pre-registration and vehicle previews, a Saturday morning breakfast, streets lined with cars, and kids’ games that keep the youngest gearheads smiling.

We also spotlight the classic car auction that now caps at 50 lots for quality and pace. It’s a Main Street spectacle that draws bidders from across the country and sends cars to new garages far beyond county lines. When the sun drops, the stage lights up for a free concert funded by local donors and sponsors—a promise that keeps the event welcoming and the sidewalks packed. Expect practical details on dates, how to pre-register for free until June, where to consign for the sale, and why this weekend has become a can’t-miss stop on the summer calendar.

Love what we’re building? Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves classic cars, and leave a quick rating or review so more people can find the show and join us on Main Street.

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook
Contact the team at Pifer's

Record prices, local buyers, and a century of family history collide in a fast-paced look at how land really changes hands. We team up to unpack two headline auctions—a strong multi-parcel sale near Winner, South Dakota and a landmark $19 million, 14-parcel sprint outside Casselton, North Dakota—and share what these deals reveal about price discovery, timing, and who’s actually bidding when great ground opens up.

We start with the human side: fifth-generation stories, wagon trails that became field approaches, and heirs who know the farm by a tax bill more than a township road. Then we zoom into the mechanics that matter—parcel strategy, honest marketing, and the right lead time—so buyers can arrange financing and 1031 exchanges while sellers gain the confidence that comes from transparent competition. You’ll hear why the Winner area’s blend of cattle, crops, and pheasant hunting attracts diverse bidders, and how the Red River Valley’s loam, drainage, and proximity to processors set the stage for rapid bidding and a decisive finish.

The episode breaks down online versus live dynamics, explaining why high-stakes buyers sometimes prefer the focus of a screen while others feed off the energy in the room. We also tackle the market paradox: softer grain prices and higher rates, yet deep demand for quality acres. The throughline is simple—well-run auctions expose real value. Whether you’re considering a family sale, eyeing a neighboring quarter, or weighing an investment that pairs production with recreation, you’ll come away with a clear view of buyer profiles, pricing logic, and the preparation that turns uncertainty into action.

If you found this useful, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves land, and leave a quick review to help more producers and families find us.

Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & Facebook
Contact the team at Pifer's