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 *
SPIES GARY J
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
OTTER TAIL CORP [OTTR]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
215 S CASCADE ST
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/14/2008
(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 04/14/2008   A(1) V 2,500 A (2) 14,082.6164 (3) D  

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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) $ 26.25             04/09/2001 04/09/2011 Common Stock 2,000   2,000 D  
Phantom Stock (4)               (5)   (6) Common Stock (7)   12,964.0823 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
SPIES GARY J
215 S CASCADE ST
FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ Gary J Spies by Debra J Lill, Attorney-in-Fact   04/15/2008
**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) Shares of Common Stock acquired under the Corporation's Stock Incentive Plan, which is a grant of Restricted Stock. The 2,500 shares granted 4/14/2008 vest 25% yearly commencing 4/8/2009.
(2) This grant has a FMV of $35.345.
(3) Total direct holdings include shares held jointly with his spouse at Piper Jaffray, shares acquired individually in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and shares acquired pursuant to Restricted Stock Award distributions.
(4) 1 -for -1
(5) There is no specific "Exercisable Date" on the Phantom Stock Award.
(6) There is no specific "Expiration Date" on this Phantom Stock Award.
(7) Phantom Stock Units acquired under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan at fair market value as part of the Compensation Program for Outside Directors. He first elected this method of payment in 2001.

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