Otter Tail County Historical Society Director Schuelke to Retire, Board Opens Search

Chris Schuelke, the longtime executive director of the Otter Tail County Historical Society, announced his retirement and the society’s Board of Directors has opened a national search for a new leader. The full-time, permanent Executive Director role carries a salary range of $50,000 to $60,000 and a full range of benefits, and applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026.

The position is based onsite in Fergus Falls and Otter Tail County and lists an ideal start date of May 2026. The job posting highlights responsibilities that include strategic and operational leadership; as the posting states, the successful candidate will “Serve as chief executive officer with overall responsibility for personnel, finances, facilities, collections, and programs.” The listing also calls on the new director to “Lead organizational planning, including long-range strategic planning and future facility expansion to address storage and exhibit needs.”

The Minnesota Historical Society described Chris Schuelke as “the longest-serving director of a history museum in Minnesota,” noting his role as a passionate advocate for local history and a guiding presence for staff, volunteers, and the wider community. The Otter Tail Lakes Country press materials include archival material from Otter Tail County’s sesquicentennial coverage, including Schuelke’s comment that “This milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on our county’s past as well as celebrate our culture and future.” The Board said a public celebration honoring Schuelke’s work will be scheduled and announced later.

Practical details for prospective applicants and community members are clear. The job offers core hours Monday through Friday with occasional weekend and evening work and a flexible day-to-day schedule. Benefits include health and dental insurance, retirement plan participation, and paid time off. Contact for applications and inquiries is otchs@prtel.com and the Otter Tail County Historical Society phone is (218) 736-6038. Kathy Evavold is listed as Curator of Collections and can be reached at that number. A media contact on the press release is Nick Leonard, Director of Communications and External Relations, at (218) 998-8057 or nleonard@co.ottertail.mn.us. The job posting footer lists an office at 201 West Lincoln Ave, Fergus Falls.

The outreach has appeared on multiple job boards and in local announcements; one posting shows a February 3, 2026 posting date while the society’s press release is dated February 6, 2026. Both dates appear in the public materials provided; the documents do not explain the sequence.

For Otter Tail County, the leadership change matters beyond personnel. The Executive Director will shape preservation priorities, influence exhibit and storage plans that have capital implications, and steer programming that supports tourism and local cultural engagement. The salary and benefits package will affect the candidate pool and the society’s ability to recruit managerial experience into a rural cultural institution. With the board running a national search and strategic planning and facility expansion explicitly on the agenda, community organizers and potential donors may see this as an inflection point for fundraising and long-term stewardship.

What comes next is a formal hiring process and a community celebration for Schuelke. Residents interested in applying or following the search should note the Feb. 27 application deadline and may contact otchs@prtel.com or (218) 736-6038 for more information.