The bidding starts at $4.1 million on July 24
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A sizeable ranch in Western Canada is up for auction next month.
High Barr Plateau, a 5,665-acre contiguous ranch in the Peace River Assessment District about 45 minutes away from Fort St. John B.C., will be available to buyers on CLHbid.com on July 24.
The auction begins at noon ET with a starting bid of $4.1 million.
The property includes 700 acres of rejuvenated pasture which were seeded in fall 2023.
That seeding mix is 15 per cent orchard grass, 20 per cent peace alfalfa, 5 per cent yellow alfalfa, 10 per cent perennial rye, 15 per cent tall fescue, 10 per cent Timothy, 10 per cent sheep fescue and 15 per cent annual rye.
The ranch also consists of 800 acres of pasture and more than 2,000 acres that are in transition to arable acres.
This farm provides multiple opportunities for the new owners.
“Make it into one massive, productive farm growing cereals, oilseeds, legumes, or grasses, and this could potentially be some of the most economical farmland in Western Canada for no other reason than just because,” the sale description says. “Make it into one massive ranch, as was the owner's (Fred Barr’s) plan, and you will have the acres to produce enough silage and hay to support well over 1,000 pairs.”
The farm has power, a phone line, a water well and newer livestock handling equipment.
There’s also a Quonset, a barn and a hay shed.
In addition to the land, the new owners will receive the necessary equipment to maintain the farm.
This equipment is a testament to Barr’s belief of having the best equipment possible, the auction site says.
“He bought the biggest and best John Deere farm and industrial equipment for his land-clearing project, including a JD 1050 Dozer with his custom-designed blade to alleviate leaving stumps,” the site says. “While most of the equipment is John Deere, notable exceptions were added to the arsenal: the Italian FAE tiller, commonly regarded as the best tiller for new breaking, as well as the Canadian manufactured Kello-Bilt heavy disc.”