Jim Massengale goes from successful manufacturing career to farming and ranching. After growing his operation to 3,000 acres and 450 cows, Massengale retired and auctioned his well-maintained equipment, including a John Deere 235 cutter and Massey Ferguson 2270 baler, with top performers fetching high prices.
Jim Massengale's background goes deeper than just farming and ranching: His roots run deep in manufacturing.
As one of the founders of United Poly System LLC, Massengale said that surrounding himself and his company with good people is what made the business so successful.
Founded in 2011 by Massengale and his partner Bert Bridges, United Poly Systems became a supplier of polyethylene pipe used for telecommunications cabling and pipe for the oil and gas industry. Across the country, United Poly Systems supplied installers with reel trailers housing thousands of miles of orange pipe helping to build the infrastructure for communication and energy transfer.
"We had all the confidence in the world we could do it. I had experience in manufacturing plants, and Bert could sell a Dr. Pepper guy a Coke, so we knew we had the right team and just needed the right people to start the business," Massengale said.
Massengale and Bridges showcased more than 40 years of combined industry experience and United Poly Systems produced more than 120,000 mi. of pipe.
In 2017, however, Massengale turned to farming and ranching, buying 30 cows and 187 acres.
"With this growth, we decided to start crop farming and silage and with that had to purchase hay equipment along with a variety of other pieces," Massengale said. "We had a lot of stuff we began purchasing in 2017 and 2018. We looked all over the country for the best, low-hour machinery."
Initially, the thought was that farming would become his retirement, but it evolved into much more. Within a year of fully retiring from the pipe business, Massengale had amassed more than 3,000 acres and 450 cows.
What was meant to be a slower pace quickly turned into a full-time operation, demanding more time and energy than expected. Massengale thus ended his run of farming and ranching and contacted Richard Spacek, territory sales manager of Purple Wave Auction, to set up a no-reserve online retirement auction for his equipment.
Most of Massengale's equipment was bought at Heritage Tractor in Rogersville, Mo., and was well-maintained by the family.
"Our large square baler was the only one left in the country that was brand new," said Massengale. "We baled between 730 and 740 bales — 80 percent have been wheat straw, with last year baling 150 to 250 bales of alfalfa."
Massengale's favorite piece of equipment was a self-propelled John Deere 235 cutter; he ran it 99 percent of the time.
"I like to cut hay. It's auto-steer, and it's a learning experience for me. I'll miss that piece the most," he said. "We're proud of what we got and know if we go out and get in any piece, it will perform."
Each piece of Massengale's equipment sold to the highest bidder on May 15 in the M3 Hilltop Ranch Retirement Auction. Other equipment featured included a one-owner 2021 Brillion seeder that helped plant 235 acres of alfalfa and a 2021 Haybuster tub grinder that produced 100 bales.
"My son Trey is the one who studied and learned how to run all the equipment,' Massengale said. "I call him constantly with questions because I'm kind of old school. He's up on all the technology. Without him, we wouldn't have had all the auto-steer equipment or the extra bells and whistles.'
The auction showcased several assets, three of which stood out in their performance. A 2022 Massey Ferguson 2270 Class 5 large square baler had a contract price of $124,300. Two tractors also performed well — a 2012 John Deere 8285R sold for $211,200, and a 2014 John Deere 6190R went for $143,000.
For more information, email richard.spacek@purplewave.com.
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