Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
MACFARLANE CHARLES S
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
OTTER TAIL CORP [OTTR]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President, Otter Tail Power Co
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
215 S CASCADE ST
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/04/2009
(Street)

FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 03/04/2009   P(1)   1,000 A $ 15.92 1,292.3266 I (2) By daughter
Common Stock 03/04/2009   P(1)   1,000 A $ 15.88 1,292.3266 I (3) By son
Common Stock               21,428.269 (4) D  
Common Stock               907.8438 I ESOP

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (right to buy) $ 29.74             12/10/2002(5) 12/10/2011 Common Stock 10,000   10,000 D  
Stock Options (right to buy) $ 26.495             10/12/2004(6) 04/12/2014 Common Stock 3,000   3,000 D  
Stock Options (right to buy) $ 24.93             10/11/2005(6) 04/11/2015 Common Stock 3,000   3,000 D  
Restricted Stock Units (right to buy) (7)             04/08/2010 04/08/2010 Common Stock 4,300   4,300 D  
Restricted Stock Units (right to buy) (7)             04/08/2011 04/08/2011 Common Stock 3,450   3,450 D  
Restricted Stock Units (right to buy) (7)             04/08/2012 04/08/2012 Common Stock 3,550   3,550 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
MACFARLANE CHARLES S
215 S CASCADE ST
FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801
      President, Otter Tail Power Co  

Signatures

 /s/ Charles S MacFarlane by Debra J Lill, Attorney-in-Fact   03/04/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These shares were purchased through Raymond James Financial Services.
(2) The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by his daughter, and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
(3) The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by his son, and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
(4) Total direct holdings include shares held in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, shares acquired through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and shares acquired pursuant to Restricted Stock Award distributions.
(5) Stock options vest in cumulative annual installments of 25% beginning the date shown.
(6) Stock options vest 100% six months from the date of the grant.
(7) 1-for-1

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