LAST week's storm that lashed through the WA Wheatbelt, forced an historic Plan B by clearing sale vendors Lacky and Min Atkins, Lake King.
It was the first time a clearing sale was held in WA using a PowerPoint presentation.
With rain rendering an outside auction useless, Madden Rural principal Neil McAllister and Primaries auctioneer Terry Zambonetti used the Atkins' large machinery shed as the sale venue.
The pair had formulated Plan B, the PowerPoint presentation, to ensure the sale went ahead during the widespread rain event.
As forecast, the day presented with heavy rain and muddy conditions but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of a crowd of about 200 with 150 registered bidders.
With 350 lots on offer, Primaries auctioneer Terry Zambonetti had his work cut out for him with the sale taking more than four hours to complete.
The shining star of the sale was a Case IH Magnum 290 tractor, which attracted interest from South Australian and Victorian phone bidders, but was eventually knocked down to KM & JK Fotheringham, Karlgarin, for $182,000, after bidding opened at $140,000.
Two buyers battled it out for a Beverley HydraBoom boomsprayer before it was secured by GJ & TA Tapscott, Morawa, for $100,000, with auctioneer Terry Zambonetti working hard to achieve that premium.
Chris Piesse, Wangeling Nominees, Wagin, was the successful bidder of a New Holland 9682 4WD tractor, after giving it a once over before the sale started, snapping it up for $60,000.
Two headers on offer, a John Deere 9650 and a Case IH 1666, went for $47,000 and $9500 respectively with the Deere going to Yornaning Grazing, Cuballing and the Case going just down the road to Neil McAllister, Ravensthorpe.
A pair of front-end loaders attracted interest with a New Holland TS110 secured by local buyer AT & RJ Sugg, Lake King, for $45,000 while a Michigan loader headed off to Banksia Downs, Coomberdale for $11,000.
Mount Madden buyer E & R Winyard picked up a Case IH PTX 600 bar for $38,000 while a couple of Fiat tractors, a 513 and a 615, went for $3400 and $2600 respectively.
Grain Commander augers, one 12.4 metres (41ft) and a 15.4m (51ft) unit were fiercely bid for before they were knocked down for $11,200 and $15,500 respectively
Six field bins, three Brereton's (8.4m, 28ft; 11.8m, 39ft and 13.6m, 45ft), two Sherwells (28 & 45 tonnes) and a Highway Engineering No 4, commanded prices from $140 to $9000.
Utilities sold from $3600 for a 2003 Rodeo to $15,200 for a 2008 Hilux with canopy knocked down to to CN & GP Brooks, Lake King.
Five trucks on offer saw a Mitsubishi Canter and Volvo F86 with eight-wheel tipping tray topping at $6000 each, while an Isuzu attracted $3200, a Dodge 600 made $1400 and a vintage Austin K2 picked up for $420.
An old Falcon XW sedan attracted one bidder's attention who paid $110 for the privilege of embarking on a long and arduous restoration project or adding to his spare parts inventory.
Livestock gear was eagerly sought-after with two lick-feeders attracting $1000 apiece, stock watering troughs making from $150 to $340 and a 4500 litre tank and saucer going for $1050.
A large range of fencing materials and equipment was snapped up going from a low of $90 through to $220.
The ubiquitous sundry items were there for the bargain hunter with lots going for as little as $2.
At the end of the sale vendor Lacky Atkins was extremely happy with the result given the conditions that the sale was conducted in.
"A number of items sold well in excess of the reserve through the efforts of auctioneer Terry Zambonetti who had to work hard to bring in the bids," Lacky said.
Madden Rural principal and sale co-ordinator Neil McAllister was also as effusive as Lacky.
"Considering the weather the sale exceeded expectations," Mr McAllister said.
"I think having the crowd sitting in one spot worked really well and they concentrated on every lot on the PowerPoint presentation.
"If it's outside, the crowd tends to get distracted and I think we actually might have done better being inside."
