February means one thing in our world: auction season in Florida. Every year, the industry gathers in Orlando for the major equipment auctions and the annual Independent Equipment Dealers Association (IEDA) meeting.
This year, my trip was a little shorter than usual with CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas just two weeks later. Still, it was a packed week filled with networking, auctions, golf, and the occasional well-earned beer.
Flying into Florida
I left Amsterdam on February 11th for a direct flight to Tampa with Delta Air Lines. By coincidence, we ran into Hank Story from Riverland Equipment at the check-in desk — always a good sign when you start bumping into industry friends before you even board the plane.
I prefer flying into Tampa rather than Orlando. With fewer international arrivals, it’s simply an easier airport to navigate. After a smooth flight, we even had time to enjoy a sunset beer on the beach. Not a bad way to kick off auction week.
From Coast Roads to Reunion
Jet lag had me up early the next morning, so the gym was the obvious choice. Later, we drove down the coast toward Sarasota for lunch. The views were stunning, although coastal fog made visibility interesting at times.
From there, we continued on to Orlando and checked into our house at Reunion Resort. Within minutes, we ran into Doug and Courtney Bryan preparing for their upcoming auction. That’s auction week in Florida — you can’t walk five minutes without seeing someone you know.
Dinner that night was at Miller’s Ale House with customers. And yes, as usual, we stayed a little later than planned.
Auctions, Meetings & Industry Buzz
Friday started early (again) with the gym, followed by visits to Bryan Auctions and a planned stop at Yoder & Frey. Traffic had other ideas, and we unfortunately couldn’t make it there before heading to Leesburg to visit Premier Water Tanks.
Matt Kelley showed us around and gave us an exclusive preview of their new tank system debuting at CONEXPO. Always exciting to see innovation up close before it hits the big stage.
That evening, the IEDA opening reception at Reunion Resort brought everyone together again. Familiar faces, new connections, and plenty of industry talk — the perfect kickoff to the weekend.
Topgolf, Events & Full Agendas
Saturday was non-stop. Lunch at Topgolf with customers, followed by a Machinery Trader event at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.
Dinner with long-time friends in the industry wrapped up the evening — with a quick stop at Rebel Auction Company to catch the tail end of their gathering. Busy? Absolutely. Worth it? Every time.
Golf, Golf… and More Golf
Sunday morning started bright and early with the IEDA golf tournament. We played for fun (and it showed), but the laughs were plentiful. After some clubhouse drinks, it was time for the big IEDA reception — always one of the highlights of the week.
Monday brought yet another customer-organized golf event — another beautiful Florida day, more shared stories, and still no trophies. That evening we attended the Ritchie Bros. reception at the Rosen Shingle Creek. Slightly farther out than usual, but once again a fantastic event with strong attendance and great energy.
And yes… Miller’s Ale House made another appearance.
Back to the Ramp
Tuesday was auction day at Ritchie Bros. Seeing machines roll over the ramp again — that traditional live auction atmosphere — felt like a return to form. We walked the yard, met customers, and watched wheel loaders sell one after another.
Later that afternoon, I joined the final eight holes of another customer golf event at the Omni. Surprisingly, I hit some great shots — finally! We wrapped up the evening with dinner and an early night, knowing we had an early departure the next day.
Sunshine Send-Off
Before flying home, we squeezed in some last-minute shopping and headed back to Tampa for one final beach stop. Relaxing by the water near the airport turned out to be the perfect ending to a packed week.
The return flight involved plenty of sleep and felt surprisingly quick.
Another February auction season in the books — full schedules, strong networking, and great moments with friends across the industry.
See you next year, Orlando.
