Draft:Steffes Group
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Steffes Group, Inc.[1] is a North American auction company with headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, United States. Founded in 1960 by Robert “Bob” Steffes,[2] the company provides live and online auctions for agricultural equipment, construction machinery, transportation assets, and real estate. It operates under the name Steffes Auctioneers in Canada following its acquisition of Bruce Schapansky Auctioneers in 2024[3].
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auctions and Auctioneering |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | Robert "Bob" Steffes |
| Headquarters | Fargo, North Dakota, United States |
| Website | https://steffesgroup.com/ |
History
[edit]Robert Steffes graduated from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering, now known as World Wide College of Auctioneering[4] in December 1958 and conducted his first auction in Arthur, North Dakota, in April 1960. Originally known as Steffes Auctioneers, the company was incorporated in 1984 and moved operations to Fargo, North Dakota.
The company launched its AgIron auction event in 1992 at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo, North Dakota, which was later rebranded as Online Steffes Auctions. In 1994, Bob Steffes sold the company to his son, Scott Steffes, and the company introduced online bidding in 1999.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Steffes Group added permanent locations in Litchfield, Minnesota (2006); Mount Pleasant, Iowa (2012, expanded in 2018);[2] and Larchwood, Iowa (2016). The company expanded into Williston, North Dakota, in 2020.
Between 2022 and 2023, the company expanded into Colorado with a yard in La Salle, and opened an office and yard in Williston in August 2023. Steffes Group also acquired Heartland Auction LLC[5] of Garden City, Kansas, in October 2023, and Behr Auction Service, LLC[6] of Rockwell, Iowa, in December 2023.
In September 2024, the company launched a financial services division, Steffes Finance. In October 2024, Steffes Group expanded into Canada by acquiring Bruce Schapansky Auctioneers[5] of Tisdale, Saskatchewan operating Canadian locations under the name Steffes Auctioneers. The company expanded its live auctions into Canada in 2025.
Operations
[edit]Steffes Group maintains corporate offices and regional facilities across North America. The company operates offices in West Fargo, North Dakota; Litchfield, Minnesota; Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Tisdale, Saskatchewan. It also utilizes auction yards in La Salle, Colorado; Mason City, Iowa; and Williston, North Dakota.
Services and Technology
[edit]In 1985, the company began publishing a printed price guide containing historical auction pricing data. This resource transitioned to a digital platform in 2021 with the release of the Steffes Price Guide App, a mobile application providing searchable historical sales data across equipment brands and categories. Steffes Group introduced online bidding in 1999.[6]
The company expanded its operations in September 2024 by introducing Steffes Finance, a division providing financing options for auction buyers and sellers.
Recognitions and Awards
[edit]Company leadership and the organization have received industry and regional recognition. Founder Bob Steffes served as the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) president in 1991[7] and was inducted into the NAA Hall of Fame in 1999.[8] In 1995, Scott Steffes won the International Auctioneer Championship in the men's division, and he was later inducted into the NAA Hall of Fame in July 2025.[9] Regionally, the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce named Steffes Group its Business of the Year at the May 2025 Chamber Choice Awards.[10]
In July 2025, company president Scott Steffes was inducted into the NAA Hall of Fame.[9]
In 2025, Steffes Group won many Marketing awards.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Farmer, Future (21 May 2019). "Auctions: The American Free Enterprise System At Work - Future Farmer". futurefarmermag.com. Archived from the original on 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ Wick, Don (2023-11-26). "Steffes Passes | Red River Farm Network". Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "Steffes Group enters Canadian farm auction scene". Alberta Farmer Express. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "WorldWide College of Auctioneering | The #1 Business & Bid Calling Auctioneer School in the World". World Wide College of Auctioneering. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ Reporter, The; Reported, Or; this?, verified from knowledgeable sources The Trust Project What is (2024-10-18). "Steffes Group expands into Canada with purchase of Bruce Schapansky Auctioneers". Agweek. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ article, Mikkel Pates Share Share this (2010-05-31). "Steffes offers new online bid platform: IQBid.com". Agweek. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ^ "Past Presidents |". ndauctioneers.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ Reporter, The; Reported, Or; this?, verified from knowledgeable sources The Trust Project What is (2023-11-27). "Bob Steffes, longtime N.D. farmer and auctioneer, remembered as a people person who lived by the Golden Rule". InForum. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ a b "Hall of Fame - National Auction Association". www.auctioneers.org. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ Reporter, The; Reported, Or; this?, verified from knowledgeable sources The Trust Project What is (2025-05-16). "FMWF Chamber announces 2025 Chamber Choice winners". InForum. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "Marketing Contest Winners". Minnesota State Auctioneers Association. 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-22.