Steve Bahnsen retires after 28 years as Paoli Co-op general manager
September 30, 2020
Steve Bahnsen's last day as General Manager of Paoli Co-op, a post he has held for the last 28 years, will be Oct. 2, after which he will retire.
He started his career in Brandon, Neb., in the fall of 1966, where he spent 11 years working at the Fitzgerald and Stewart elevator.
He then worked as operation manager of the Dudden elevator in Venango, Neb., for 11 years, followed by two years at the Venango Co-op.
After a two-year stretch as location manager in Hill City, Kan., he accepted the position of General Manager at Paoli Co-op.
Bahnsen has mixed emotions about his approaching retirement. "It's going to be quite a change not coming here every morning," he said.
He has seen many changes over his 54 years in the grain business.
When he first started, emphasis was on managing the condition of the grain in the elevators, and in the mid-to-late '80s, there began to be a shift toward assisting farmers with their marketing plans and helping them manage that risk.
As efficiency increased over time, the co-op had to gear up to handle the increasing quantity of grain.
"You have to do what's best for the farmer," he said. "You just have to."
The many friends and acquaintances he's made at the co-op over the years will always have a special place in his heart.
"I've been blessed with the board of directors and employees over the years. You're only as good as they are," he said. "I thank all the patrons for their support."
He noted that Shawna Mason, who has been at the Paoli Co-op nearly nine years, will assume his position when he retires. He is confident that he is leaving the co-op in good hands.
After retiring, Bahnsen plans to spend some time woodworking, and although he doesn't yet have specific destinations in mind, he also plans to travel with his wife, Linda. "It's an open map right now," he said.
Bahnsen said he is glad to be able to spend some time with the friends he's been blessed with over his 28 years as general manager, a position he feels honored and privileged to have held.
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