By Lori EhdeLeroy Lindblom has been introducing her as his eventual replacement as manager of Farmers Union Co-op Oil in Luverne.Connie Doering is technically a trainee, but she brings more than 23 years of co-op experience to the business.Doering started in Luverne on Oct. 1 after leaving her four-year job in the recovery department at First Financial Bank in Sioux Falls."I was their top collector, but it wasn’t my love," Doering said. "This is what I love – the ag community, and the co-op is what I enjoy doing,"Prior to her bank job, she worked at a co-op near Huron, S.D., for 23 years and said she wanted to get back into the co-op environment.It didn’t take long for Doering to feel at home in Luverne."Since coming here, I’ve felt very welcome. Luverne is an awesome town," she said. "It’s an ag community, and to be able to work with ag people from here to Lismore is a lot of fun."She praised Lindblom and the staff for building a strong co-op."I have awesome employees," she said. "That’s what makes the job – the people. … And the board of directors here does a good job steering the company."Lindblom has managed Farmers Union Co-op Oil for 39 years and saw the business through the merger of Farmers Union and Rock County Co-op Oil three years ago.The combined co-op now boasts roughly 2,000 member owners and employs 33 people, mostly full-time.That number includes five office staff and employees in Lismore and in the fertilizer plant.Lindblom said he’s optimistic the co-op will do well under Doering’s management. "I think this is a good fit," he said.Doering said she looks forward to her relationship with Farmers Union."Farmers Union has grown into a co-op that serves its people by expanding into the products its customers need," she said."Leroy has done an awesome job building this company."Lindblom said he doesn’t have specific plans for retirement, except that it will happen after Jan. 1 next year.Doering has a grown daughter, Natalie, who lives in Fargo, N.D., with her husband, Paul Bilstad.