Schottle received the 2023 Service to Ag award. Schottle has been a member of the Hub Club since 2009 after he began working for Upper Midwest Management.

With his background in accounting, Schottle served as the Hub Club treasurer, a position he held for five years. He continued on the club board of directors through 2022.

Schottle grew up in Sleepy Eye. Though his family moved off the farm at a young age, Schottle had farming experience through his extended family. He earned an accounting degree and moved to Minneapolis but would move to New Ulm in 1984 to raise his family with his wife Terry. Doug and Terry have three children and three grandchildren.

During the award presentation, the Hub Club held a roast to honor Schottle, though it would be more accurate to describe it as a “medium dark roast.”

Doug Scottle

A common joke was to reference Schottle’s love of coffee, which he drinks frequently. The centerpieces for the event were plastic Folgers coffee containers. Everyone attending the banquet raised a coffee mug in his honor instead of a traditional glass.

Hub Club members thanked Schottle for his dedication to the club over the last 13 years. In addition to his accounting skills, he was praised for his work at the Bavarian Blast food stand, the club’s annual Farm Show, the Farmfest food stand and the Cash Wise Brat Stand.

He was praised for his ability to quickly crunch the numbers while working the food stands.

Schottle said in looking at the list of past recipients of the award, he could not help but feel humbled to receive the honor; especially for serving a club this fun.

“I am very honored to have this award,” he said. “I never thought I was worthy to have the honor, but I thank you all for proving me wrong.”

Though he is retiring from the Hub Club board, Schottle promised he will continue to be involved in their events. He enjoy his 13 years with the Hub Club and hopes to continue with the club for even more.

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During the banquet, the members formally elected new officers and board members.

New officers are Marie Guggisberg as president; Jason Schroeder as 1st vice president; Ken Reckard as 2nd vice president; Shannon Hillesheim as treasurer; Justin Gode as events director; Randy Schroeder as director-at-large (one year) and Randy Reinarts as director-at-large (three years).

The Farm City Hub hosts the Farm Show Friday and Saturday, Mach 10-11 at the New Ulm Civic Center.