By Lori EhdeAfter 35 years with the Farm Service Agency, Roger Carlson, Luverne, still doesn’t think a retirement party is all that necessary.As far as he’s concerned, work has been a privilege, and he’s pretty sure the office will manage fine without him after he leaves at the end of the month."I feel I’ve tried to be fair and treat everyone equally," said Carlson, executive director of the Rock County FSA. "But I don’t expect a pat on the back for doing my job."The agency helps interested producers participate in programs offered through the federal government.For Carlson, it’s a job he’s enjoyed and a duty he’s taken seriously."I’m a federal employee. I’ll help any farmer as much as I can, but I’m not going break any rules," Carlson said. "I have an obligation to uphold … I’m a taxpayer, too."After completing his math degree at Augustana College, Carlson started with the Farm Service Agency on Dec. 1, 1969 as an office and field assistant.That was in the Murray County office in Slayton, not far from Chandler, where he grew up.His early work involved monitoring bin sites at different towns where the government stored grain. Later, his job was to sell that grain and close the sites when the program was discontinued.In 1975, he completed training to be an FSA manager, and in 1975, he was promoted to a management position in Park Rapids.Only 2 1/2 years later, he accepted the director’s position in Rock County, where he started in January 1978."It was beautiful country up there, but they’re into irrigation, potatoes, pintos and forestry," Carlson said. "It was all new to me, but I still had to be knowledgeable in those programs."While he enjoyed the learning experience and living in a county with 152 lakes, he said he was glad to be back in southwest Minnesota."Coming back to Rock County was like coming home to beans, hay and oats," he said. "I was more comfortable here. … I know we made the right choice by coming here."Twenty-six years later, Carlson said he’s had no regrets."I’ve enjoyed associating with all the good people here," he said. "I was born and raised on a farm, so I’ve enjoyed working with farmers."He mentioned winning the Federal Administrator’s Award in 1992 for service in agriculture as a highlight of his career. "To me, it meant a lot," he said. "That was the highest award they give in the agency."Carlson, now 58, was eligible to retire three years ago, but he said he wasn’t ready. "I was having too much fun," he said. "I really enjoyed my work."Plus, he could see big changes coming with the new Farm Bill and wanted to be here to facilitate that. "I figured, what’s one more challenge?" he said.Today, though, he’s ready. "The office is going to run fine without me," he said. "The girls can handle everything until they get my replacement."Harold Ver Steeg, vice chair of the FSA Rock County Committee, agreed with that statement."I think the county’s going to miss him, but through his leadership example, he’s left a really well-trained staff in the office," Ver Steeg said."Personally speaking, I’ll miss his professionalism and that he was always well-prepared."Because of a federal hiring freeze, the committee won’t start interviewing candidates for Carlson’s replacement until directed by Washington, D.C., officials to do so.Carlson’s open house retirement party will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in Howling Dog Saloon.
