Perham’s Huebsch files for OTC District 1 seat

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, July 3, 2008

Filing Tuesday for Otter Tail County Commission District 1 seat, to be vacated at year’s end by chairperson Sydney Nelson, is Doug Huebsch of Perham.

“I’ve decided to run for the county board because I want to be helpful and serve the people in the first district,” said Huebsch on Tuesday. “I’m not angry over any issues and I don’t have a set agenda that I would like to accomplish.”

Huebsch said he’s had the privilege to “live, work and play in Otter Tail County my entire life. Now I’d like to give back to the county that has been great to me.”

District 1 includes townships in northeastern Otter Tail County, in the Perham area.

Huebsch is a founder of New Life Farms that specializes in turkey production. New Life produces eggs for Jennie-O Foods, a division of Hormel Foods. New Life Farms and its subsidiary, NLF Group, own Napa of Perham and also invest in agricultural and renewable fuel entities.

He is a co-founder of The Wild Goose, a specialty gift store and coffee house that’s open all year long in Perham. Additionally, The Wild Goose also is contracted by FACE Inc. to manage the VIP food and beverage areas of We-Fest, a regional country musical festival held each summer near Detroit Lakes.

Perham Capital Company, co-founded by Huebsch, is a local investment group directed toward developing quality housing in the Perham area. It also invests in small businesses in rural Minnesota.

He is a member of MARL (Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership), the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Advisory Board, is a member of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s China Partnership Trip and is past president of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.

Huebsch has worked on the Rapid Response Fund for Agriculture, helped renovate the MTGA State Fair booth and is a member of the National Turkey Federation, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, Minnesota Farm Bureau and Minnesota Farmer’s Union.

He and his wife, Susan, have three children, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Mark.

Huebsch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

He is past president of Perham Rotary Club, served as St. Henry’s Parish Council vice chairman, is past president of the Perham Chamber of Commerce and Perham Area Jaycees and is past Cub Master, Perham Cub Scouts.

His hobbies include reading, traveling, outdoor activities, spectator sports and photography.

Four candidates had filed for county commission through Thursday. They include Douglas Huebsch, Perham, District 1; John D. Lindquist, Dalton, District 3; and W. Rick Wilson and James R. Ayres, District 5.