Hello, my name is Stacey Caldwell. I was married to a wonderful man by the name of Sid Caldwell for thirty-three years. We had made our home in the Blackton area for the last 30+ years. We have two beautiful daughters and had made our living by farming for all of those 30+ years.

On November 12, 2014, I lost my husband Sid to a terrible disease called AL Amyloidosis. My world seemed to stop. I had lost my best friend…. my soul mate. I could not function for the first few weeks after this horrible loss. My family and friends were there for me to make sure I didn’t just lie down and give up.

This is when reality set in as well. I had to deal with all the business of our farm. I was a partner in the farm but when you lose the most important earthly person in your life… you have to turn to the utmost important person in your life… God. I prayed and prayed for strength and guidance. He did not let me down. He had never let me down.

Over the next few weeks I had to figure out how to close the farm and sell all of the equipment, remaining grain, and what little bit of land we owned. This was like having Sid die all over again. I was drowning.... drowning in sadness, nervousness, and an unimaginable feelings of never seeing him again. The doorbell begins to ring and so did the phone. Bankers, lawyers, accountants, friends and family were needing information that was necessary in order to close the farm and get all the wheels in motion.

Before he ever knew he was sick, my husband had asked a dear family friend to please step up and help me if anything ever happened to him. He promised to do the same if anything ever happened to his dear family friend. So enter, my sweet family friends Dean and Monica.

My next step was to contact an auctioneer to handle the sale of all the farm equipment. I had no idea who to contact. I had a couple of gentlemen stop by and visit about it and leave their flyers. It just didn’t seem like they had my best interest at heart. I was so sad about it all. I guess I wanted them to not just sell Sid’s equipment…. But to also see what a wonderful guy he was. I had not felt this with the few gentlemen that had contacted me. I had planned to just pick one and get on with it. This is when another fellow entered the picture. Our landlord gave him my name and number. This gentleman was Doug Stovesand. I had never seen or talked with him. But he called my number and we began to visit over the phone.

He actually knew of my husband from past auctions Sid had attended. Even though he did not know him very well…. He could tell that Sid was a sweet soul and an honest man. Mr. Stovesand talked with me for quite a while and through the course of the conversation assured me that he didn’t want to pressure me and he had my best interest at heart. I felt like God had sent him to me. Mr. Doug Stovesand wanted to help "me"…. Not just sell my equipment. When our phone conversation ended, I was so relieved to know that I had found the one to do Sid’s auction. But I still had not told the other gentlemen who stopped by that I didn’t want them to handle the auction. I had found the person who I knew would be perfect.

I immediately called my family friends, and asked had they heard of this person from Stovesand Auctions. They both immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, "yes!" They replied, "We wanted you to use Doug Stovesand but didn’t want to push anyone on you that you didn’t know." I replied, " This guy talked to me like a person." "He knew Sid, and wanted to help me in any way he could."

Mr. Doug Stovesand was kind and courteous to me and wanted to help me. He called many times after our conversation and just wanted to check on me. He shared his own family stories… listened to my many stories of Sid and always made me laugh. This was the man who would handle my husband’s equipment sale. He gathered all the information he needed and created flyers and made calls and handled everything! He was thorough, understanding, and knew his stuff.

The day of the auction arrived. Through our many conversations, I knew what to expect and how everything would go. He made me comfortable enough to ask him anything. On this auction day, the snow began to fall. I was horrified! He assured me we would have a crowd and they would be ready to buy…. and they were. The lines of vehicles were astonishing. People came from all over to stand in the snow and bid on my husband’s equipment.

Mr. Doug Stovesand knows how to shake up the crowd when they fall asleep or start bidding too low. He did a phenomenal job. I never regret choosing Doug Stovesand to handle the sale of our farm equipment. I had people call me after they either attended the auction or heard Stovesand Auction Company was handling the auction just to say that they were glad I did not choose the other auction companies. They even stated that they, as farmers themselves, have already told their wives and family members that if anything ever happens to them to make sure Doug Stovesand would be the one to handle their sale if it had to be done.

In closing, I just want to say that Doug Stovesand did a remarkable job…. not only with the sale of our equipment, but with the very difficult task of talking to families that are grieving and in shock about the turn their life has taken. I would recommend to any family, friend, or fellow farmer that Doug Stovesand Auction Company is the only one to consider if they ever have to go through an equipment sale. I feel like the best job was done and I now have another friend in my life as well.

Sincerely,

Stacey Caldwell

Sid Caldwell Farms, partner

Blackton, Arkansas

 

Thank you for conducting such an outstanding farm equipment sale for me. Because of your intense advertising, we had buyers from seven states and consequently, the equipment brought more than my highest expectation!

It took me 35 years to accumulate this equipment, but only three hours to sell out....there are no second chances in this game. Your first-class service and peerless reputation brought in the quality buyers to give me top dollar for my equipment. If I had it to do over, I would choose Stovesand Auction Company every time!

Jim Wood
Arkansas State Auditor

We wanted to thank you and your staff for all the help and great manner in which you took care of everything for the estate sale for the Lucas family. You and your staff were very heart felt and very in touch with the family and friends as you handled this sale.

We would like to let you know how much we appreciated you and your staff in handling all the details in the sell of this estate. The Lucas family would want everyone to know how well you did and how much appreciated they are for your help during this time.

We would highly recommend you and your staff to anyone in need of your services. Again, thank you for all your concern and help during this time.

The family of Jackie Lucas
Conway, Arkansas

We were very pleased with our equipment sale.

The time you spent with us, the trustworthy advice, and your professional attention to every detail made it a pleasant experience.

Thanks to you and your crew for all you did.

Jim & Pat Devorak
Des Arc, Arkansas

We made a hard decision to quit farming ground that our family had farmed for three generations. God showed us it was the right thing to do. Then He led us to a great auction company.

Doug and his associates were the nicest, easiest; to work with people you could ever have the privilege of doing business with. They showed us such kindness, compassion and understanding. Business was conducted in a very professional manner. The meticulous preparation before the auction really paid off. The way they advertised, marketed, and promoted our sale was outstanding.

The sale itself was a great experience and was beyond our wildest dreams. It was all in God's hands and He provided greatly.

Thanks,
Roy and Leigh Ann Bullington
McCrory, Arkansas

After a raging battle in my mind to retire or make one more crop, I finally decided to lease out my land after farming for 38 years. I called Doug Stovesand about a farm equipment auction. He was at my farm shop the very next day to look over my equipment and give me a price he thought it would bring at a sale. He stayed all afternoon making his appraisal and taking photographs of what he wanted to put in his brochure.

Doug explained what I should expect in an upcoming sale. I found that Doug was very friendly, courteous, and professional. We decided on a sale day and he went to work almost immediately on advertising and promoting my sale. He called many times before my sale day to inform me of an item he has sold at a sale that was similar to one I had. He told me to expect phone calls from several states, and that is exactly what happened. Sale day finally came and I was nervous hoping for a decent crowd. When the sale started, we estimated 600 people were there, needless to say I had a excellent sale thanks to Stovesand Auctions

From the first contact to the final implement sold, I was very happy with Stovesand Auctions.

Jimmy Flannagan
Des Arc, Arkansas

Although I struggled mightily with making the decision to retire and did not make it until late in the auction season, I did not hesitate with the decision on which auction company to call to sell my equipment. Over 30 years of farming I have attended several farm auctions and none consistently gave me the good feelings that I experienced at Stovesand Auction events. I didn't need to ask anyone's advice; Stovesand Auction Co. was the only auctioneer I ever considered. The only question I had for Doug was "When can you do it?" Before Doug would answer that question, he insisted on filling me in on all the services he would provide, at what cost, and what was expected of me so that I would not be surprised on sale day.

I was not disappointed in the least when auction day rolled around the last week of March. Although it was late in the season and many farmers were undoubtedly busy planting a new crop, the turnout for my sale was bigger than I expected. I had prepared an 8 acre parking area off the adjoining highway and it was practically full of rows of orderly parked trucks and trailers. I attribute much of that to Stovesand Auction's reputation and loyal following of buyers, some of whom had given Doug standing bids for particular items based on Doug's description of it given them over the phone That is evidence of a buyer's trust in an auctioneer. It's already evident that I, as the seller, trusted Doug but when buyers also trust the auctioneer, how can you go wrong?

The color advertising was excellent and created a lot of interest from surrounding states as evidenced by the number of calls I had from individuals interested in one piece of equipment or the other. Many of those callers later showed up for the sale. Several interested buyers visited my sale site a week or so before the sale to inspect items they were interested in...an interest sparked by the color brochures that Stovesand Auction mails out. I use the word "brochures" to differentiate them from the common "flyers" you most often see which are printed on maybe 20# white memo paper as opposed to magazine grade color "brochures".

The auction went smoothly and quickly with a lot of good natured banter back and forth between Doug, his crew, and the crowd. I particularly enjoy that banter at Doug's auctions. Once the sale was complete, Doug and his office crew quickly completed the paperwork, settled with John Deere Finance over the phone on outstanding balances due for a couple of late model items, and issued a check for my net proceeds. While you never get as much as you want, I feel like I got all that my equipment was worth on that day. I couldn't have asked for a more professional operation from a nicer group of people than Stovesand Auction.

It's never easy to watch one's equipment acquired over a lifetime of farming being sold at auction, but Doug had counseled with me at length about what to expect and how to cope. His advice was excellent and heartfelt and without it I would probably have been a basket case. He is not only a good auctioneer; he also has a farm of his own and thus understands the stress of selling out. He offers an emotional helping hand to get over the hurtle of selling your equipment.

If I had it to do over again - I'd call Doug.

Ronald D. Merritt
Merritt Farms, Inc.

Making the decision to liquidate your farming operation for whatever reason is stressful and emotional. Doug brought a calmness and confidence to our decision. His marketing and sales skills are second to none. The majority of our equipment was older and very used. Doug got top dollar for our equipment and we were very pleased with the outcome of our sale. If we had to do this again we would definitely choose Doug.

Bill and Myra McNeil
Lonoke, Arkansas

One of the hardest decisions a person must make in their life is the decision to change or stop doing what they have done their whole life. As you know that was the decision that we made last year at this time when we decided to retire from farming. You and your company helped to make it an easier job for a number of reasons.

First of all, you came with a good reputation from everyone we talked to. You called a number of times to check on our decision, but you didn't come on so strong or make us feel pressured to let you have the job. Next, after deciding that you were the one for the job, the brochures you made were extremely nice. The advertisements in the various papers were great. Your personnel did an excellent job getting everything ready for the sale. They were so friendly and real helpful the entire time. The sale was carried on very professionally. It was the kind of sale you could take your family to. We were so pleased with the way it turned out and you got us such a good price on things. A year later we have no regrets.

Thanks again for everything you and your staff did to make your retirement sale the way it should have been.

Sincerely,
Jerry and Judy Milam
Cherry Valley, Arkansas

Thank you and your staff for the professional manner in which my sale was conducted. Calls came in from California, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and all over Arkansas. The results were more than anticipated or expected. The crowd - buyers - were just overwhelming. I'm very pleased with all aspects of my sale.

Sincerely,
George Ford
Des Arc, Arkansas

Just a note to sincerely thank you for your assistance in our farm equipment auction.

Your advertisement and promotion prior to the sale was responsible for drawing an excellent crowd of interested bidders. The sale was well-organized, and your entire team handled things in a highly professional manner.

I feel certain that all of this contributed to a great degree in the very successful outcome of our sale.

Sincerely,
Henry Moore, III
Lewisville, Arkansas

Farming may start out to be a business venture, but, as time goes by it unknowingly becomes a way of life.

You get to farm every year, but you only get to sell out once. This becomes an emotional time for the whole family. We really appreciate the way our sale was handled.

Thanks again,
Bennie and Linda Duch
Griffithville, Arkansas

The decision to retire after 41 years of farming was a very tough one to make. Having an auctioneer with the reputation and experience of Doug Stovesand made my equipment sale a tremendous success.

Everything about the process and what I should expect from the sale was made clear to me. The brochures were a fantastic way to advertise, as I had calls all the way from Oregon prior to the sale.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Doug Stovesand and his staff at Stovesand Auction Company for conducting such an impeccable equipment sale. Doug Stovesand is a true professional. My family and I want to thank you again for making my retirement a little bit easier.

Thanks, again,
Steve Lovett and Family
Grady, Arkansas

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your services yesterday. Howard has always had a lot of respect and trust for you. He has always said, "Remember if anything happens to me, use Doug Stovesand first if he is in business." I know you probably get a lot of complaints after a sale about your fee for 1 days work. Well, we want to do just the opposite. It is not just that one day; it is a daily basis of keeping up with the market, keeping up with technology, and keeping an honest reputation. Just wanted to let you know you helped Howard's mood lighten up yesterday. He commented that he was never worried about the rain and cold because you were in control.

Thanks,
Mrs. Howard Bottoms
Gould, Arkansas

This is a testimony centered around GOD and the way HE used the Stovesand Auction team to conduct our sale.

 

I have to start with Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who seeks Godly counsel.

 

There is not enough praise and thanks for the Stovesand Team. It takes a team effort to accomplish anything in life. This was a big decision to sell our farm equipment, part of our life left with this sale and this is why I sought Godly counsel. I had heard a lot about Doug Stovesand and his team, and had previous experience buying items at other sales conducted by Stovesand Auctions. They are honest and work hard for the best sale you could have. Doug's counsel was everything we expected. The sale itself was more than we ever dreamed it would be, but I wouldn't expect anything less from my God. When you listen to Godly counsel from Godly men it tends to work in your favor and God found favor on us. Everybody that attended that day had nothing but praises for Doug and his crew that day.

 

Psalm 105:1 Give thanks and make known among nations (people) what He has done.

 

This is what it is about, making known how well Doug's team handled the sale, and what they can do for you!

GOD IS GOOD!
Sid & Jeantta Langley
Searcy, Arkansas