B-1 DB02/0021332.0000/7573378.12 EXHIBIT B POWER OF ATTORNEY (Reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5) Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Kathleen L. Bruegenhemke, and Arla Surls, any one of whom may act without the other, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to: (1) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned any and all reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5 that may be required from time to time with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company"), all in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder; (2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such reports on Forms 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and file such forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and (3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, including without limitation, completing and executing for and on behalf of the undersigned a Uniform Applications For Access Codes To File On Edgar, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion. The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact. A photocopy or facsimile copy of this Power of Attorney may be relied upon to the same extent as an original copy of this Power of Attorney. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney this 24th day of April, 2023. /s/ Gregg A. Bexten Print Name: Gregg A. Bexten ANY PERSON RELYING ON THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY MAY RELY ON A PHOTOCOPY AS IF IT WERE AN ORIGINAL.