High Barr Plateau went up for auction in July
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A B.C. ranch that went up for auction in July sold to the highest bidder.
High Barr Plateau, its more than 5,000 acres and other amenities about 45 minutes away from Fort St. John, B.C., had a starting price of $4.1 million when bidding began.
When the bidding ended on CLHbid.com July 24, the ranch sold for $5.65 million.
That represents a 37.8 per cent increase from the original price.
Included on the ranch is 700 acres of rejuvenated pastureland that were seeded in the fall of 2023.
The custom seeding mix consists of:
- 15 per cent orchard grass
- 15 per cent tall fescue
- 15 per cent annual rye
- 20 per cent peace alfalfa
- 5 per cent yellow alfalfa
- 10 per cent perennial rye
- 10 per cent Timothy
- 10 per cent sheep fescue
In addition, there’s 2,000 acres in transition to arable land.
Included in the sale is all the equipment the new owners need to maintain the farm.
The farm’s previous owner, Fred Barr, had a reputation for undertaking massive projects.
And the machinery included in the transaction is evidence of that commitment.
“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.”
An auction originally scheduled for mid-August had its sale date pushed to October.
The Hat Creek Ranch Collection, which includes 74,716 acres, was supposed to be available to bidders on CLHbid.com on Aug. 15.
To put the ranch’s size into context, Parliament Hill sits on about 22 acres of land.
This means more than 3,300 Parliament Hills could fit onto the ranch.
Now, the ranch southwest of Cache Creek, B.C., will be up for auction on Oct. 1.
The auction starts at noon ET that day.
The property includes multiple homes, a shop, barns and a working cattle area.
In addition, the ranch is equipped to continue with livestock production.
“Hat Creek Ranch Collection is a farmstead where the pastures and mountain peaks stretch as far as the eye can see; it supports significant AUMs and boasts irrigated feed to ensure a sustainable and prosperous operation,” the sale description says. “The Upper Plateau offers robust pastureland where it’s not uncommon to find grass that grows to a horse’s belly in the late summer - just when a rancher needs it most.”