BigIron booster of I&I efforts

HAMILTON, Ill. — BigIron Auctions provides a modern online platform, but continues to stay close to agriculture’s early roots with its support of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club.

The business, in its 40th-year, is a major sponsor of the club’s biennial Half Century of Progress with the next show set for August 2025 at Rantoul.

In 1984, brothers Ron and Mark Stock founded Stock Auction Company, which quickly gained a reputation for fair dealing, honest representation and prompt payment.

The company primarily focused on live auctions, but Ron and Mark saw the potential for online auctions as the internet became more widely available in the 1990s.

In 2001, Stock Auction Company broadcasted its first online stream of a live auction. This was the beginning of a new way for bidders to participate in an open outcry auction over the internet from anywhere in the world.

Stock Auction Company officially launched BigIron in 2009, its online-only auction platform.

BigIron quickly gained popularity among farmers and equipment dealers, thanks to its user-friendly interface and transparent bidding process.

“Today, BigIron is the trusted partner in online auctions with thousands of items sold every week,” according to its website.

“From a farmer who is looking to upgrade their equipment or may be considering retirement, to an equipment dealer looking to sell inventory, the company’s user-friendly website and mobile app make it easy for buyers and sellers to browse, bid and manage their auctions from anywhere at any time of the day.”

BigIron acquired Sullivan Auctioneers, based in Hamilton, in July 2022 and now has 305 sales representatives across the United States.

“Our shared philosophies of transparency, trust and hard work solidified our decision to combine organizations. Together, we are better,” said BigIron CEO Mark Stock at the time of the purchase.