Where passion meets service

Communities are best served by those who live and work in them. These people are the heartbeat that helps their communities thrive, not just survive. That is Dan Haag’s philosophy.

Haag, lead instrumentation technician at Leland Olds Station, has been involved in baseball and/or softball in some form since childhood. Originally from Center, North Dakota, he recalls spending his summers growing up playing ball and watching his father and uncles do the same. After graduating high school and getting married, Haag and his wife headed to Minnesota, where he spent 20 years working for the airline industry. He continued to play in amateur baseball leagues until he was 37 and began coaching tee ball when his eldest son began to play. He eventually coached his daughter’s fast-pitch softball team to a 6th place finish in the national championship.

As they often do, family roots called the Haag family back to Center in 2008 where Haag was hired at Dakota Gasification Company as an instrumentation technician. He moved to Leland Olds Station in 2016.

The family returned to North Dakota during their daughter’s junior year of high school, the same year girls’ fast-pitch softball was first sanctioned in the state. While his daughter traveled to Bismarck to participate in the sport, Haag also played an important role in helping local coaches with baseball experience transition to the realm of fast pitch.

Several years have passed since that time, but things have a way of coming full circle in life. A few years ago, Haag got back into coaching when his daughter, who also lives in Center with her family, asked him to coach the local Little League teams as her son was finally old enough to play.

Haag didn’t need to give it much thought. “In a small town, if people don’t want to share their skill sets with others, I believe it’s a disservice to their community,” he says. “It’s rewarding and exciting to see young people develop their talents, and it wouldn’t happen if others didn’t get involved. It’s essential that people share the skills they have, otherwise programs fade away.”

Haag sees parallels between what’s important in his professional life and what’s important on the ball diamond, stating that teamwork, patience, and respect are essential to the success of both areas. He relies on parent volunteers and an assistant coach for practices and games and receives help from a Parks and Recreation District board member who handles scheduling.

He also values diversity and leans on it for teachable moments, noting that keeping more advanced players intermixed with less-experienced players is crucial. “If you keep the kids intermingled, at some point along the way they all gain from it and become a better team. The more experienced players will begin to help, teach, and give instruction and the less advanced players will start to model themselves after it,” Haag remarks. “It’s not about winning, it’s about teaching. That’s always been my attitude. If I can teach the kids to move forward and use those fundamentals later in their careers and lives, I think I’ve succeeded.”

Becky Wrobbel, maintenance planner/scheduler for Leland Olds Station and Antelope Valley Station, commends Haag for his involvement in the local community, saying, “My son plays for Dan as do children of other Basin Electric employees. He volunteers his time to the program, spends his own money on various pieces of equipment for the kids, and even uses vacation time to be at their tournaments. It's great watching him work with the kids! Dan treats each player fairly and respectfully, which makes everyone feel included and valued. My son looks forward to learning more about baseball because of him.”

At the end of the day, it’s the community impact that keeps Haag returning to the ball diamond year after year. “Of course, the kids all want to win. But, for me, success comes from watching the kids develop their skills. Seeing how the kids respond when they make a play, get a good hit, or make a good catch or throw — it’s the greatest thing for them. They just light up. Seeing the kids succeed is so rewarding.”

Although his passion for the sport has not waned over the years, he jokes that the lake is beckoning more and more on nice summer days as he nears retirement. Haag is looking forward to starting his fifth season of coaching in Center with another one of his grandchildren joining the team this year.