EXHIBIT 5.1

                        [Baird, Holm, McEachen, Pedersen
                       Hamann & Strasheim LLP Letterhead]


May __, 2003

Oregon Trail Ethanol Coalition, L.L.C.
P.O. Box 267
Davenport, Nebraska 68335

     Re: Registration Statement on Form SB-2

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Oregon Trail Ethanol Coalition, L.L.C. (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation of the Company's Registration
Statement on Form SB-2 (such Registration Statement, as amended, is referred to
herein as the "Registration Statement"), which was filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 on May 1, 2003, for the
issuance and sale by the Company of a maximum of 24,000 membership units (the
"Membership Units").

     In so acting as counsel, we have examined originals or copies, certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Articles of Organization, as
amended, of the Company, as well as the Operating Agreement, as amended, of the
Company. We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records, agreements and other
instruments, and of certificates or comparable documents of public officials and
of officers and representatives of the Company and have made such inquiries of
such officers and representatives as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a
basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth.

     As to all questions of fact material to this opinion, we have with your
permission, without any investigation or independent confirmation, relied upon,
and assumed the accuracy of, certificates or other comparable documents of
officers and representatives of the Company.

     In rendering the opinion expressed below, we have also assumed, with your
permission and without independent verification:

          (a)  that the signatures of person signing all documents in connection
               with which this opinion is rendered are genuine and authorized;

          (b)  that all documents submitted to us as originals or duplicate
               originals are authentic; and

          (c)  that all documents submitted to us as copies, whether certified
               or not, conform to authentic original documents.

          Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions,
qualifications, and limitations set forth herein, it is our opinion that:

     1.      The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
             limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the
             State of Nebraska.



     2.   Upon the issuance and sale of the Membership Units in accordance with
          the terms of the Registration Statement, the Membership Units will be
          legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     The opinion set forth herein is given as of the date hereof and is
expressly limited to the matters stated. We are delivering this opinion to the
Company solely to satisfy the requirement of the Securities and Exchange
Commission set forth in Item 601(a) and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K
under the Securities Act and no other person may rely on it.

     Capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions given to such
terms in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this
opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus comprising a part of
the Registration Statement.

                                              Respectfully Submitted,


                                              /s/ Baird, Holm, McEachen,
                                              Pedersen, Hamann & Strasheim LLP

                                              BAIRD, HOLM, McEACHEN,
                                              PEDERSEN, HAMANN & STRASHEIM LLP