LOUDONVILLE — Loudonville native Roger Stitzlein wasn’t surprised Wednesday when his former coworkers asked him to visit, but he was surprised later when he learned the reason why.
The retired manager and CEO of Loudonville Farmers Equity was honored with the Loudonville Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Service award.
Among a small group, the chamber’s executive director Valerie Spreng presented him with a plaque, recognizing his volunteerism and community involvement.
They gathered in a large conference room to watch a slideshow featuring Stitzlein’s accomplishments. The show was intended for the annual award banquet, which was originally postponed in March 2020. Spreng hoped to reschedule the event, but as months passed, it became clear, it wasn’t possible.
“This year it was supposed to be at the Legion and catered, but with COVID, it wasn’t happening. We tried to postpone it, and it wasn’t working out,” Spreng said.
Instead, she settled on a small ceremony to celebrate Stitzlein, who has dedicated decades of service to the area.
Stitzlein graduated from Loudonville High School in 1971 and from The Ohio State University in 1975 with a degree in Agricultural Economics.
At the young age of 25, he became the manager of Loudonville Farmers Equity. He didn’t initially know if he’d stay in the area, but soon found he loved his job and hometown.
Over the years he volunteered his time with the Mohican Growth Foundation, Mohican Area Community Fund; Farmer’s Bank, FFA, 4H, the Loudonville Fair and other organizations. Often he served in leadership positions, as he was vocal and determined to see progress.
Since retiring, Stitzlein remains active in the community. It’s not uncommon for Stitzlein to drop by his former office. He has volunteered his time and knowledge to facilitate a smooth transition from his leadership. He had been CEO since 1978.
“It’s really a surprise. I didn’t know I really stood out, but I guess over the years, I’ve been involved in a lot of different things, things that mean a lot to me,” Stitzlein said about the award.
He recalls growing up with parents who taught him and his six siblings to give back to the community. His parents had served on local boards and stayed active in Loudonville matters.
“It’s very important. A lot of people sit around and complain about this and that, but get involved. Get on the school board. Get on council. Get on your church council. Get involved in the FFA,” Stitzlein said. “When you’re involved, you understand it more and are more willing to be positive about it.”
This year, eight Loudonville area residents were nominated for the award. A committee chose Stitzlein as the winner.
“Every year it goes to someone who has gone above and beyond doing things for the community, and I think they picked him because he has been in the community for a long time, gone above and beyond and was retiring this year,” Spreng said.
Now, Stitzlein runs a 25 acre farm that he bought about five years ago. He’d also like to travel after COVID-19 is no longer a threat.
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