A hub of commerce and agriculture, Southern Minnesota is leading the nation in innovative health care, clean energy, and cutting-edge biotech. Driven by innovators like the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and the Hormel Institute in Austin; robust agriculture and food processing from Albert Lea to Worthington; and impressive manufacturing from Jackson to Benson, southern Minnesota has continually seen strong economic growth and unemployment rates well below the national and state averages.

Senator Klobuchar has toured many outstanding businesses in the region, including Red Wing Shoes, the Faribault Woolen Mill—one of the oldest businesses in Minnesota—and Peerless Chain in Winona—the world’s largest manufacturer of chain.

Senator Klobuchar’s husband, John, is from Mankato, where he grew up with his five brothers. Five of the six brothers grew up to be Eagle Scouts but Senator Klobuchar won’t say which one didn’t because she doesn’t want to embarrass her husband. John’s mom and dad, Bill and Marilyn Bessler, still live in Mankato, the home of Minnesota State University.

Senator Klobuchar’s work in Southern Minnesota includes these visits:

  • Hosted French Ambassador Philippe Etienne at the Mayo Clinic. (Olmsted County)
  • Met with veterans about the PACT Act in Owatonna. (Steele County)
  • Toured Rossman Farm Genetics in Oronoco with Senator Boozman, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture committee. (Olmsted County)
  • Toured Houston’s Fire Hall and highlighted the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act. (Houston County)
  • Met with Wabasha city leaders to hear about their project proposal for Highway 60. (Wabasha County)
  • Spoke with veterans about the PACT Act at the St. Peter American Legion. (Nicollet County)
  • Toured Winona’s Levee park to see their flood mitigation efforts. (Winona County)
  • Convened a meeting with local leaders at Lanesboro’s Commonweal Theatre. (Fillmore County)
  • Toured Cannon River Winery with the owner, mayor and Cannon Falls leadership. (Goodhue County)
  • Toured the Madelia Fire Hall to highlight the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act. (Watonwan County)
  • Met with Rochester schools Superintendent and other education leaders to highlight a federal mental health grant that Rochester Public Schools received. (Olmsted County)
  • Visited the Biegler family farm to discuss the farm bill. (Murray County)
  • Met with veterans to discuss the PACT Act in New Ulm. (Brown County)
  • Toured Gaylord’s Fire Hall to highlight the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act. (Sibley County)
  • Delivered remarks on the importance of passing a strong, bipartisan Farm bill at the Farmers Union Regional meeting. (Dodge County)
  • Convened a discussion with Northfield city leadership about economic development. (Rice County)
  • Met with the Mankato Police Chief and Mankato city leadership to highlight legislation that combats catalytic converter thefts. (Blue Earth County)
  • Toured the Worth family farm to discuss the farm bill. (Lincoln County)
  • Met with the Rochester Fire Chief to discuss the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act. (Olmsted County)
  • Joined VA Secretary Denis McDonough for a leadership meeting and a tour of Mankato’s VA clinic. (Blue Earth County)
  • Convened a discussion with the Marshall Mayor and city leadership to hear about the Highway 19 Reconstruction Project and their RAISE grant. (Lyon County)
  • Convened an economic development discussion with the Pipestone mayor and city leadership. (Pipestone County)
  • Toured the Albert Lea VA Clinic with VA Secretary McDonough. (Freeborn County)
  • Convened a meeting with Rock County and Ellis & Eastern Railroad to hear about their rail construction and rehabilitation project. (Rock County)
  • Met with leadership of the POET Biorefining plant in Bingham Lake to hear an overview of the ethanol plant, POET operations, and toured the plant. (Cottonwood County)
  • Delivered remarks at Farm Fest and visited with agricultural leaders. (Redwood County)
  • Spoke at the Small Business Association’s 70th anniversary celebration. (Blue Earth County)
  • Spoke at the Redwood Falls Veterans Cemetery dedication ceremony. (Redwood County)
  • Met with Riverland Community College president and college leadership to discuss workforce initiatives. (Mower County)
  • Visited with hospital leadership and toured the United Hospital District in Blue Earth. (Faribault County)
  • Spoke at and participated in Worthington’s 84th Annual King Turkey Days celebration. (Nobles County)
  • Met with leadership from Martin County at the Law Enforcement Center to discuss their project for a new space. (Martin County)
  • Met with the City of Jackson Mayor and other city leaders to hear about the upgrades to the Jackson Municipal Airport. (Jackson County)
  • Spoke at the St. Peter fire station ribbon cutting celebration. (Nicollet County)
  • Led a discussion with the Le Sueur mayor and police department about the funding for their radio and communications upgrades made possible with a federal grant. (Le Sueur County)
  • Met with leadership from Guardian Energy Ethanol Plant and toured their facility. (Waseca County)
  • Spoke at the annual Red Wing Veterans Day Commemoration at Red Wing High School. (Goodhue County)
  • Spoke at the Highway 14 New Ulm to Nicollet four-lane expansion project ribbon cutting. (Nicollet County)
  • Met with county officials to highlight their energy efficiency project funding (Blue Earth County)
  • Hosted a discussion with the general manager of Chippewa Valley Ethanol to learn more about innovation in the ethanol industry (Swift County)
  • Toured the Cambria manufacturing factory and held town hall with employees (Le Sueur County)
  • Convened a discussion with ethanol plant manager to hear about the latest advances in biofuels (Chippewa County)
  • Hosted a discussion with the mayor of Tyler about the infrastructure needs of the city (Lincoln County)
  • Met with seniors about fraud protection in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Hosted a discussion with the Blue Earth County Commissioner about their infrastructure needs (Blue Earth County)
  • Led a discussion about flooding issues, construction, and highway 14 with Brown County commissioner (Brown County)
  • Hosted a discussion with chief executive officer at Granite Falls Energy about progress within the industry (Yellow Medicine County)
  • Visited Northfield City Hall (Rice County)
  • Presented Congressional Statement for the Record to Danielle Boss, widow of firefighter Brett Boss, and met with the Fire Chief and fire fighters (Freeborn County)
  • Met with the CEO of Mayo Clinic (Olmsted County)
  • Convened a discussion with the Winona mayor to hear about their community infrastructure needs (Winona County)
  • Led a roundtable discussion about state highway 19 safety improvements with the mayor of Marshall (Lyon County)
  • Toured Nu-Tek Biosciences manufacturing in Austin and met with local leaders (Mower County)
  • Hosted a discussion with the La Crescent mayor about his city's infrastructure needs (Houston County)
  • Led a discussion with Cottonwood County commissioners to review their public works building and improvements needed in their water and wastewater (Cottonwood County)
  • Convened a discussion on infrastructure priorities with the mayor of Pipestone (Pipestone County)
  • Hosted a discussion with the mayor of Lanesboro to get an update on issues facing the community (Fillmore)
  • Toured South X Southeast Brewery and met with owners in Pine Island (Goodhue County)
  • Hosted a discussion about community and infrastructure needs with the mayor of Wabasha (Wabasha County)
  • Participated in an event to celebrate Austin Minnesota’s INFRA Grant with local leaders (Mower County)
  • Toured the Daktronics manufacturing facility in Redwood Falls and met with the owners (Redwood County)
  • Led a discussion with the mayor of Luverne and discussed infrastructure priorities (Rock County)
  • Convened a discussion with the CEO of Guardian Energy about legislative developments in Washington (Waseca County)
  • Attended the Highway 14 Groundbreaking in Cortland (Nicollet County)
  • Hosted a discussion on infrastructure funding, workforce housing, and childcare with the mayor of Jackson (Jackson County)
  • Led a discussion with the Watonwan County commissioner about the pressing infrastructure issue of county road maintenance and rebuilding (Watonwan County)
  • Held a discussion with mayor of Fairmont about daycare shortages and workforce housing issues (Martin County)
  • Met with the mayor of Rochester and local leaders to discuss the 6th Street Bridge project (Olmsted County)
  • Hosted a discussion with the mayor of Blue Earth about affordable housing and the childcare shortage (Faribault County)
  • Convened a discussion about biofuels with the CEO of Al-Corn (Dodge County)
  • Visited Old Town Bagels in Owatonna and talked with residents (Steele County)
  • Led a discussion with the mayor of Slayton about road restructure and broadband (Murray County)
  • Convened a discussion with Nobles County commissioner to discuss fiber to the home broadband and expansion of cell tower coverage (Nobles County)
  • Spoke with Mankato local leaders on their coronavirus pandemic response and concerns (Blue Earth County)
  • Spoke with the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) (Blue Earth County)
  • Spoke with Comfrey Mayor Gary Richter and the Region Nine Economic Development Commission (Brown County)
  • Spoke with Windom Mayor Dominic Jones (Cottonwood County)
  • Spoke with residents (Dodge County)
  • Spoke with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation President Tim Penny and board members (Faribault County) 
  • Spoke residents and business leaders (Fillmore County)
  • Spoke with AARP and the Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition (Freeborn County)
  • Spoke with Prairie Island tribal leaders (Goodhue County)
  • Visited Frontenac State Park (Goodhue County)
  • Spoke with Le Crescent Mayor Jake Poellinger (Houston County)
  • Spoke with Southwest Regional Development Commission board members  (Jackson County, Lyon County, Murray County, Nobles County, Pipestone County, and Rock County)
  • Met with New Prague Mayor Chuck Nickolay (Le Sueur County)
  • Spoke with Minnesota Soybean Growers about agricultural concerns (Lincoln County)
  • Spoke with residents and business leaders (Lyon County)
  • Spoke with Midco and Fairmont School Districts on broadband access for students (Martin County)
  • Spoke with Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm (Mower County)
  • Spoke with Nicollet County Commissioner Marie Dranntel and the Region Nine Economic Development Council (Nicollet County)
  • Attended a meeting in Worthington to discuss economic, health, and broadband expansion (Nobles County)
  • Met wit businesses (Nobles County) 
  • Spoke with Rochester local leaders (Olmstead County)
  • Toured Mayo Clinic coronavirus research and testing facilities (Olmstead County)
  • Met with Lower Sioux tribal leaders (Redwood County)
  • Met with Faribault Mayor Kevin Voracek (Rice County)
  • Met with Sibley County Commissioner Jim Swanson and the Region Nine Economic Development Council (Sibley County)
  • Spoke with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation President Tim Penny and board members (Steele County)
  • Spoke with Wabasha local leaders (Wabasha County)
  • Met with Janesville local leaders (Waseca County)
  • Met with St. James Mayor Gary Strum and the Region Nine Economic Development Council (Watonwan County)
  • Met with Winona local leaders (Winona County)
  • Attended the Minnesota Farmers Union 79th Annual Meeting
  • Spoke at the 19th annual Rochester Veterans Day (Olmsted County)
  • Viewed flood damage with local officials in New Ulm (Brown County)
  • Discussed rural water and water infrastructure at Red Rock Rural Water (Cottonwood County)
  • Viewed flood damage in Windom (Cottonwood County)
  • Met with residents in Kasson (Dodge County)
  • Met with residents in Wells (Faribault County)
  • Met with residents in Lanesboro (Fillmore County)
  • Discussed the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act at the Albert Lea Fire Department (Freeborn County)
  • Met with Red Wing Ignite, educators, and students to discuss workforce needs (Goodhue County)
  • Visited Doug and Julie Heintz’s dairy farm and discussed the Farm Bill (Houston County)
  • Discussed workforce development initiatives at AGCO (Jackson County)
  • Toured Cambria and met with employees (Le Sueur County)
  • Discussed the Farm Bill and agcommodity issues with Lake Benton Mayor and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (Lincoln County)
  • Discussed childcare accessibility in rural Minnesota with local childcare providers, business leaders and impacted families (Lyon County)
  • Lyon Viewed flood damage in Tracy (Lyon County)
  • Toured Kahler Automation and met with employees (Martin County)
  • Toured the Spam Museum with Mayor Tom Stiehm (Mower County)
  • Discussed rural broadband deployment with local government and business leaders at Finley Engineering (Murray County)
  • Attended an event at St. Peter High School commemorating the 1998 tornado (Nicollet County)
  • Discussed the final construction plans for Lewis and Clark Water in Worthington with Mayor Mike Kuhle and other city officials (Nobles County)
  • Spoke at the National Association of Women in Construction’s Machine Masterminds event for local Girl Scouts (Olmstead County)
  • Toured the newly constructed Rochester International Airport U.S. Customs facility with airport leadership (Olmstead County)
  • Toured the new Pipestone Medical Center (Pipestone County)
  • Attended Farm Fest (Redwood County)
  • Toured Faribault Foods’ new facility and warehouse space and met with employees and the Faribault mayor (Rice County)
  • Spoke at Shattuck St. Mary’s commencement ceremony (Rice County)
  • Convened an economic development discussion with community leaders at Sterling Café and Grill (Rock County)
  • Attended the 2018 Governor’s Pheasant Opener (Rock County)
  • Met with the Minnesota Pork Producers Association at Wakefield Pork (Sibley County)
  • Toured the Daiken Applied facility and met with employees (Steele County)
  • Met with residents in Wabasha (Wabasha County)
  • Met with local veterans in Waseca (Waseca County)
  • Met with residents in St. James (Watonwan County)
  • Met with members from the Winona Chamber of Commerce, local school district leadership and local manufactures to discuss workforce development and apprenticeships (Winona County)
  • Held an agriculture economy roundtable (Blue Earth County)
  • Spoke at the Mankato State University commencement (Blue Earth County)
  • Convened a panel on sex trafficking with local leaders and law enforcement in New Ulm (Brown County)
  • Visited Duffy's Bar and Grill in Windom (Cottonwood County)
  • Met with employees at Al-Corn Clean Fuel Ethanol Plant in Claremont (Dodge County)
  • Met with Aker Technologies leadership and the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to discuss in-season crop monitoring service for corn and soybean growers (Faribault County)
  • Met with city and business leaders to discuss tourism in Lanesboro (Fillmore County)
  • Attended an event commemorating the ten year anniversary of the Rushford flood that almost destroyed the city (Fillmore County)
  • Met with Freeborn County leaders and Albert Lea Hospital leadership (Freeborn County)
  • Met with managers of the new Red Wing bridge project, Red Wing city leaders, and MNDOT officials to discuss several road projects in Red Wing (Goodhue County)
  • Visited Barista's Coffee House in Houston (Houston County)
  • Met with staff from New Fashion Pork, leadership from the MN Pork Producers, and local elected officials (Jackson County)
  • Attended the Le Sueur County Township Association Meeting (Le Sueur County)
  • Visited Restaurant Kronborg in Tyler (Lincoln County)
  • Met with Tru-Shrimp company leadership to hear about their plans to develop shrimp farms in southern MN (Lyon County)
  • Attended the Governor’s annual pheasant hunting opening dinner at Southwest Minnesota State University (Lyon County)
  • Toured and met with leadership from the Green Plains ethanol plant (Martin County)
  • Discussed workforce development with faculty and students at Riverland Community College (Mower County)
  • Visited the Grain Exchange in Slayton (Murray County)
  • Discussed small business issues with women entrepreneurs at the St. Peter Food Co-op (Nicollet County)
  • Attended the official opening for the new St. Peter High School (Nicollet County)
  • Discussed call completion and cell reception dead zones with emergency responders and other public officials (Nobles County)
  • Hosted a roundtable discussion on apprenticeships and the American Apprenticeship Act at CTECH (Olmstead County)
  • Attended a cancer benefit gala in Pipestone (Pipestone County)
  • Met with Redwood Area Hospital leadership and city leaders to discuss their expansion project (Redwood County)
  • Spoke at the St. Olaf College commencement (Rice County)
  • Attended the dedication ceremony of “Liz Wall Strohfus Field” at the Faribault Municipal Airport (Rice County)
  • Toured the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System project in Luverne (Rock County)
  • Visited Prairie House Restaurant (Sibley County)
  • Toured Cybex International, Inc. in Owatonna (Steele County)
  • Toured Hearth & Home’s manufacturing facility and their new $1.5 million product design and engineering lab (Wabasha County)
  • Met with the Drysdale family, Wabasha Mayor Rollin Hall, and land owner Bill Fitzgerald to discuss the Army Corps of Engineers Dredged Material Management Plan for the Mississippi River (Wabasha County)
  • Met with employees and toured the Guardian Energy Ethanol Plant in Janesville (Waseca County)
  • Met with local officials and residents to discuss and tour downtown Madelia to learn about the recovery after the 2016 fire (Watonwan County)
  • Led a panel discussion with representatives from the Minnesota
  • National Guard, the 934th Airlift Wing, and Winona’s local veteran organizations (Winona County)
  • Toured Goodwill in Mankato and met with local leaders on non-profit energy efficiency (Blue Earth County)
  • Delivered remarks at the Deployment Ceremony for Minnesota Army National Guard 135th Infantry Regiment (Blue Earth County)
  • Toured the Windings manufacturing building in New Ulm and met with employees to discuss the benefits of their ESOP (Brown County)
  • Toured the Business Arts and Recreation Center in Windom and spoke at their community pancake breakfast about non-profit energy efficiency (Cottonwood County)
  • Spoke with area residents at local business in Dodge Center (Dodge County)
  • Spoke with area residents at restaurant in Blue Earth (Faribault County)
  • Visited and toured Harmony Enterprises and learned about their new daycare center (Fillmore County)
  • Visited the Freeborn/Mower electric coop (Freeborn County)
  • Met with local officials in Red Wing (Goodhue County)
  • Toured Spring Grove Soda and met with residents (Houston County)
  • Visited with area residents at Santee Crossing in Jackson (Jackson County)
  • Met with the Le Sueur Mayor and other community members at the Le Sueur Municipal Airport to discuss the airport upgrade plan and funding (Le Sueur County)
  • Visited Alfred and LaVerne Jesson's farm in Tyler to learn about their solar array (Lincoln County)
  • Held a meeting in Marshall with community members to discuss ACT on Alzheimer’s (Lyon County)
  • Visited with area residents at restaurant in Fairmont (Martin County)
  • Spoke at the Hormel Institute Expansion Grand Opening (Mower County)
  • Visited with area residents at Left Bank Café in Slayton (Murray County)
  • Held an "In the Red" roundtable on student debt and other obstacles facing students at South Central College in North Mankato (Nicollet County)
  • Delivered keynote remarks at the Worthington King Turkey Day Celebration (Nobles County)
  • Delivered remarks at Rochester's Martin Luther King Day celebration (Olmsted County)
  • Spoke at a Rochester Rotary Meeting (Olmsted County)
  • Held a roundtable discussion on opioids in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Attended event announcing an update to the customs facility at the Rochester International Airport (Olmsted County)
  • Visited and toured Pipestone National Monument (Pipestone County)
  • Toured Redwood County Coop Electric Solar Garden (Redwood County)
  • Met with Elizabeth Strofus to discuss allowing WASPs to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery (Rice County)
  • Met with local officials and toured flood damage in Faribault at the water treatment facility and Faribault Woolen Mill (Rice County)
  • Toured the veterans home in Luverne and visited with residents (Rock County)
  • Held a meeting with member Mayors and Joint Powers Board members of RS Fiber at their network operation center in Winthrop (Sibley County)
  • Held a meeting on early childhood education with the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (Steele County)
  • Toured flood damage in Owatonna and met with city and county officials (Steele County)
  • Visited the Wabasha Eagle Center to discuss new expansion with community leaders (Wabasha County)
  • Met with local officials and residents for an update on the town's recovery after a fire destroyed much of downtown Madelia (Watonwan County)
  • Visited with area residents at restaurant in St. James (Watonwan County)
  • Toured flood damage in Waseca and met with city and county officials (Waseca County)
  • Toured RiverStar Inc. in Winona and met with company leadership (Winona County)
  • Spoke at ceremony marking the completion of the Winona Bridge and the start of rehabilitation of the historic bridge over the Mississippi River in Winona (Winona County)
  • Delivered remarks at the Dresbach bridge dedication ceremony (Winona County)
  • Toured dangerous sections of Highway 14 across Southern Minnesota to advocate for expansion in Dodge Center, Rochester, Owatonna, Nicollet and New Ulm (Steele, Dodge, Olmsted, Nicollet and Brown Counties)
  • Convened a group of dairy farmers to discuss feed shortage issues and toured a family dairy farm (Goodhue County)
  • Hosted U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Burwell for a tour of Mayo Clinic’s precision medicine facility in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Convened a meeting on workforce development with local business and education leaders at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Met with local officials for an update on the Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport in Marshall (Lyon County)
  • Toured the Green Plains Ethanol Plant in Fairmont (Martin County)
  • Held community meetings in Edgerton and Luverne with Governor Mark Dayton on flood recovery efforts and surveyed damage in nearby townships (Rock and Pipestone Counties)
  • Met with Representative Kline and local leaders to discuss a new, safer interchange outside Cannon Falls on Highway 52 & County Road 9 (Goodhue County)
  • Toured flood damaged areas and mitigation projects in Luverne (Rock County)
  • Visited with area residents in Winthrop (Sibley County)
  • Visited Balzer Inc. in Mountain Lake on a tour promoting the importance of exports to Minnesota businesses (Cottonwood County)
  • Hosted a discussion on improving visa rules so that more doctors can practice in underserved and rural areas (Olmsted County)
  • Spoke at the Inauguration Ceremony for Gustavus Adolphus College President Rebecca Bergman (Nicollet County)
  • Toured Lou-Rich Engineering and Manufacturing in Albert Lea to learn about successful high school apprenticeship programs (Freeborn County)
  • Joined with Ralco and Midwest Ag Enterprises at AURI in Marshall to discuss the importance of exports to Greater Minnesota (Lyon County)
  • Visited with veterans and spoke at the New Ulm American Legion on Memorial Day (Brown County)
  • Spoke at the event commemorating major expansion of the Hormel Cancer Institute in Austin (Mower County)
  • Spoke at the Waseca Warrior Benefit honoring Sgt. Tom Block and Lance Corporal Caleb Erickson (Waseca County)
  • Toured a family farm outside Kiester and discussed the Farm Bill with local farmers (Faribault County)
  • Delivered remarks at South Central College's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Faribault to advocate for stronger ties between businesses and education facilities in Greater Minnesota (Rice County)
  • Surveyed ice storm damage around Worthington, Luverne and Hills, and met with local officials about recovery efforts across southwest Minnesota (Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles and Rock Counties)
  • Gave address at Mayo Clinic's Transform Symposium to call for a renewed national investment in biomedical research (Olmsted County)
  • Joined business leaders and the USDA at a roundtable discussion on the future of manufacturing in the region (Nicollet County)
  • Convened a meeting to discuss efforts to boost tourism at the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce (Fillmore County)
  • Attended the groundbreaking for new Winona Bridge (Winona County)
  • Toured the Minnesota Corrugated Box facility in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Held an event in Rochester on the need for continued research funding from the National Institute of Health to fight countless diseases (Olmsted County)
  • Toured Le Sueur's municipal Bioenergy facility (Le Sueur County)
  • Convened a meeting to discuss regional flood recovery across Southwest Minnesota in Worthington (Nobles County)
  • Visited Schell's Brewery in New Ulm and discussed business issues with fifth generation Schell's President Ted Marti (Brown County)
  • Toured the Bio Plastics Solutions facility in Blooming Prairie (Steele County)
  • Toured flood damage and discussed the recovery process with Mankato officials (Blue Earth County)
  • Spoke at the Rochester Chamber of Commerce about business issues affecting the region (Olmsted County)
  • Toured Sno-Pac Vegetables in Caledonia (Houston County)
  • Convened a discussion on veterans issues with local County Veteran Service Officers and American Legion members in LeCenter (LeSueur County)
  • Met with Benco Electric Co-op in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Convened meeting of local and federal officials in Ivanhoe to discuss new storm siren equipment (Lincoln County)
  • Visited Red Wing Pottery (Goodhue County)
  • Spoke at South Central College's Ag Symposium in North Mankato (Nicollet County)
  • Visited Minnesota's largest solar array in Slayton and learned about solar power from the project builders (Murray County)
  • Spoke along with the President of the Farm Bureau at Farmfest (Redwood County)
  • Visited the Mankato VFW to greet members of the "Ride for Healing" on their first stop of a five day motorcycle ride for the National Vietnam Veterans' memorial (Blue Earth County)
  • Rallied with farmers and local leaders at Heartland Co-Op in Winthrop and Guardian Energy in Janesville to show support for biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (Sibley, Waseca Counties)
  • Spoke at the American Legion in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Stopped at the Chickadee Cottage Café and met with local residents in Lake City (Wabasha County)
  • Toured Ellingson Drainage in Concord, which expanded with the help of USDA Rural Development loans (Dodge County)
  • Held meeting with local officials in Jackson to discuss workforce housing in Greater Minnesota (Jackson)
  • Visited with employees and toured Angie's Kettle Corn in North Mankato (Nicollet County)
  • Attended the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Military Sisterhood Lunch in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Convened a meeting in Redwood Falls with local stakeholders to discuss broadband expansion (Redwood County)
  • Delivered remarks at the Convocation Ceremony at Carleton College in Northfield (Rice County)
  • Spoke at the 150th anniversary celebration of Faribault Woolen Mill (Rice County)
  • Toured the Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric solar array in Owatonna (Steele County)
  • Met with Wabasha Mayor Hall at Slippery’s Bar and Grill (Wabasha County)
  • Stopped at a local café in Jackson (Jackson County)
  • Visited with Freeborn-Mower Cooperative in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Toured Faribault Woolen Mill while highlighting made in Minnesota products (Rice County)
  • Met with Lake City Police Chief Gary Majchrzak and several of his officers (Wabasha County)
  • Met with Windom residents at the River City Eatery (Cottonwood County)
  • Toured a biodiesel plant in Brewster and met with the Minnesota Soybean Processors’ board of directors (Nobles County)
  • Visited with local residents at a café in St. James (Watonwan County)
  • Met with local veterans and officials at Winthrop City Hall on Memorial Day (Sibley County)
  • Toured the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall (Lyon County)
  • Visited the Left Bank Café in Slayton (Murray County)
  • Joined Blooming Prairie business and local leaders for lunch during Manufacturer's week (Steele County)
  • Visited Tuohy Furniture in Chatfield (Fillmore County)
  • Met employees and toured the Alumacraft Boat Company manufacturing facility in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Toured a local farm in Waseca (Waseca County)
  • Visited with local residents at a café in Blue Earth (Faribault County)
  • Met with local officials and toured the National Child Protection Training Center (Winona County)
  • Stopped by a Café in Fairmont and greeted local residents (Martin County)
  • Met with the Mayor in Sleepy Eye (Brown County)
  • Visited with residents at local café in Fairmont (Martin County)
  • Visited with residents over coffee in La Crescent (Houston County)
  • Met with veterans in Ivanhoe (Lincoln County)
  • Held a discussion about rural development at Steele-Waseca Cooperative with the USDA and toured their facility (Steele County)
  • Convened a meeting of local leaders in Pipestone to discuss economic development issues (Pipestone County)
  • Celebrated New Year’s 2015 with my husband in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Visited the Minnesota Vikings Training Camp in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Visited the Vikings Training Camp in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Visited with residents at a café in Tyler (Lincoln County)
  • Toured a family farm in Westbrook (Cottonwood County)
  • Visited a family farm outside Clements and discussed agriculture policy with local farmers (Redwood County)
  • Toured the Malt-O-Meal factory in Northfield and greeted employees (Rice County)
  • Joined local residents at Windom Municipal Airport (Cottonwood County)
  • Assessed flood damage in Zumbro Falls (Wabasha County)
  • Toured the Prairie Rose Wind Farm outside of Hardwick (Rock County)
  • Visited with area residents at a restaurant in Windom (Cottonwood County)
  • Visited with area residents at Daniel’s Restaurant in Kasson (Dodge County)
  • Spoke at the Mayo Clinic for National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of women's heart disease (Olmsted County)
  • Greeted area residents at a local Café in Madelia (Watonwan County)
  • Assessed flood damage in Pine Island (Goodhue and Olmsted Counties)
  • Visited a family farm outside Sibley and talked about the Farm Bill with local residents (Sibley County)
  • Met with diners at Daniels Restaurant and Café in Kasson (Dodge County)
  • Public meeting at Irene's by Julie Café in Hendricks (Lincoln County)
  • Visited with diners at Johnie Beans Café (Waseca County)
  • Visited the SPAM Museum in Austin (Mower County)
  • Assessed tornado and storm damage in Kiester with the Mayor and local officials (Faribault County)
  • Assessed flood damage in Owatonna (Steele County)
  • Commemorated the 150th anniversary of Gustavus Adolphus College with the King and Queen of Sweden in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Went on a family bike trip in Lanesboro (Fillmore County)
  • Assessed flood damage in Faribault (Rice County)
  • Toured Elm Creek Wind Farm (Jackson County)
  • Met with county FSA staff to discuss conservation programs in Ivanhoe (Lincoln County)
  • Spoke at the Austin VFW Post 1216 Veteran’s Day event (Mower County)
  • Toured the EDF Renewable Energy Wind Project in Chandler (Murray County)
  • Delivered remarks on sex trafficking at Gustavus Adolphus College’s Building Bridges Conference in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Met with residents at the Blue Earth Café (Faribault County)
  • Toured the construction site for the new hospital in Pipestone (Pipestone County)
  • Met with former Congressman Tim Penny in Waseca to discuss the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s work (Waseca County)
  • Convened a Mississippi River Basin Protection Act forum with U.S. Representative Ron Kind (Houston)
  • Toured National Eagle Center in Wabasha (Wabasha County)
  • Visited with diners at the historic Calumet Inn (Pipestone County)
  • Visited Root River Trail (Fillmore County)
  • Met with local residents at Barista Café (Houston County)
  • Toured European Roasterie and convened discussion on small business (Le Sueur County)
  • Visited Rae Hoisve's organic farm in Kenyon (Goodhue County)
  • Met with local residents at Quality Bakery in Northfield (Rice County)
  • Toured the new Golden Spike Industrial Park in Blue Earth and met with local business leaders to discuss economic development efforts (Faribault County)
  • Toured the solar project at Featherstone Farms in Rushford Village (Fillmore County)
  • Toured Red Wing’s infrastructure projects with local city officials (Goodhue County)
  • Participated in a health care reform event and tour of Mayo Clinic in Rochester with then-Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (Olmstead County)
  • Toured Agco Manufacturing's farm innovation center (Jackson County)
  • Convened an export promotion panel in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Toured the Elm Creek Wind Farm (Martin County)
  • Toured the American Milk Producers cheese processing plant in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Greeted local residents at Daniel's Restaurant in Kasson (Dodge County)
  • Visited with local residents at a corn and soybean farm outside of Cleveland (Le Sueur County)
  • Convened healthcare discussion at the Fairmont Medical Center (Martin County)
  • Met with mayor and city manager of Goodview and other officials about local issues (Winona County)
  • Spoke at the Redwood Falls Memorial Day Celebration (Redwood County)
  • Toured Rushford Hypersonic Company (Fillmore County)
  • Toured the River Walk Farm in Canby (Lincoln County)
  • Toured Akkerman company in Brownsdale (Mower County)
  • Toured Wenonah Canoe in Winona (Winona County)
  • Convened a meeting with local officials regarding highway infrastructure in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Joined the Linder Farm Network as "Farm Broadcaster of the Day" in Marshall (Lyon County)
  • Toured Monogram Foods in Chandler (Murray County)
  • Convened a small business development roundtable in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Visited the South Central Electric Association in St. James (Watonwan County)
  • Toured Newport Veterinary Labs in Newport (Nobles County)
  • Toured Austin Packaging Company (Mower County)
  • Accepted the "Friend of Agriculture Award" at the Minnesota Corn Growers Association Banquet in Morton (Renville County)
  • Met with diners at T-Bones Grill and Bar (Wabasha County)
  • Convened business innovation panel with regional business leaders focusing on innovation for job creation (Olmsted County)
  • Visited with constituents at Prairie House Restaurant in Gaylord (Sibley County)
  • Joined the Hormel Institute for an announcement and discussion of global trade opportunities in Austin (Mower County)
  • Visited with constituents at the Fishtale Grille in New Prague (Le Sueur County)
  • Delivered remarks at the Catholic Charities and Common Good RSVP Veteran’s Day event in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Met with local officials in Lewisville for an update on their USDA-funded water infrastructure projects (Watonwan County)
  • Convened a public roundtable discussion on healthcare at Sanford Hospital (Nobles County)
  • Visited with area residents at Water Tower Days (Pipestone County)
  • Discussed federal loan programs with students at Mankato State University (Blue Earth County)
  • Convened a meeting with local medical and government leadership at the New Ulm Medical Center to discuss health care (Brown County)
  • Convened a meeting with local officials to discuss rural broadband issues (Jackson County)
  • Convened discussion on local economic development (Pipestone County)
  • Visited with Lyon County veterans at the American Legion post in Tracy (Lyon County)
  • Convened rural economic development discussion (Renville County)
  • Convened a discussion with federal officials about water issues in Worthington (Nobles County)
  • Met with constituents at restaurant in Slayton Minnesota (Murray County)
  • Visited with Veterans and spoke at the Currie American Legion on Memorial Day (Murray County)
  • Convened a meeting with local officials to discuss the MN Valley Regional Railway (Redwood County)
  • Met with community and business leaders to discuss job creation strategies (Faribault County)
  • Convened a discussion on rural development with local officials and business leaders at Guide Point Pharmacy in Worthington (Nobles County)
  • Toured SAGE and met with employees and area residents to discuss economic development (Rice County)
  • Toured window manufacturing facility and convened an energy efficiency meeting with local leadership (Nicollet County)
  • Visited with students and teachers at Lincoln Choice Elementary in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Visited with local veterans at the Morison-Avio VFW 1900 in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Visited the Minnesota Vikings Training Camp in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Delivered remarks at the Worthington Bio Conference (Nobles County)
  • Met with Mayo Clinic leadership to discuss precision medicine and toured their Biobank repository in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Met with local officials in Winona for an update on the bridge expansion project and toured the construction site (Winona County)
  • Spoke at the Yellow Ribbon Proclamation Ceremony in Faribault (Rice County)
  • Toured Poet biorefining plant in Lake Crystal (Blue Earth County)
  • Stopped for coffee and visited with local residents in Olivia (Renville County)
  • Addressed the 63rd Annual Building Trades Convention in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Discussed flood prevention and recovery efforts with local officials in New Ulm (Brown County)
  • Spoke at the Japan-U.S. Cherry Blossom Centennial Celebration (Winona County)
  • Toured the IBM Facility in Rochester and met with IBM leadership and employees (Olmsted County)
  • Convened a Health Care Reform Policy Roundtable with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Met with local residents at Crossroads Bakery in Gaylord (Sibley County)
  • Meeting with local officials at Happy Chef Restaurant in Windom (Cottonwood County)
  • Toured the new Tri-County Energy Cooperative facility in Rushford, which replaced the facility destroyed by flooding (Fillmore County)
  • Stopped at the Chit Chat Café in Luverne to meet with local residents (Rock County)
  • Toured Gunderson Lutheran Clinic in La Crescent (Houston County)
  • Visited dairy farm in Pine Island (Dodge County)
  • Visited with local veterans and spoke at the Owatonna American Legion (Steele County)
  • Announced $6.3 million in grants for Minnesota through the Federal Home Loan Bank in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Visited with veterans at American Legion in Blue Earth (Faribault County)
  • Toured a family farm in Fairmont (Martin County)
  • Met with local officials and renewable energy business leaders at the public library in Winona (Winona County)
  • Met with local officials in Austin to discuss area flood recovery efforts (Mower County)
  • Toured Select Foods in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Convened a panel of elected officials and medical professionals in Mankato to discuss regional disparities in Medicare reimbursement (Blue Earth County)
  • Toured Red Wing Shoes (Goodhue County)
  • Discussed status of the milk industry with the Associated Milk Producers in New Ulm (Brown County)
  • Visited the POET Biorefining plant in Bingham Lake (Cottonwood County)
  • Visited Heintz dairy farm in Caledonia (Houston County)
  • Visited with residents at a local Café (Dodge County)
  • Discussed the Regional Competitiveness Study with the Southern Minnesota Initiative in Blue Earth (Faribault County)
  • Visited AGCO in Jackson (Jackson County)
  • Held roundtable discussion on jobs and area economic development in Fairmont (Martin County)
  • Visited the International Owl Center in Houston (Houston County)
  • Visited with area residents at Barista’s Café in Houston (Houston County)
  • Convened a meeting with health care providers and patients at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Wabasha (Wabasha County)
  • Public meeting with local residents in Le Sueur (Le Sueur County)
  • Visited the Extreme Home Makeover Show, toured the site and visited with volunteers involved in the project in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Met with local veterans at the American Legion in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Visited with veterans at American Legion in Marshall (Lyon County)
  • Attended the annual Prairie Island Indian Community Pow-Wow in Welch (Goodhue County)
  • Met with the Red Wing Port Authority and local leaders regarding area economic development (Goodhue County)
  • Toured Advanced Drainage Systems in Fairmont (Martin County)
  • Convened flood mitigation meeting with mayor and local officials in Austin (Mower County)
  • Met with residents at Jackson City Hall to discuss future economic development (Jackson County)
  • Met with volunteer firefighters and other first responders in Le Center (Le Sueur County)
  • Met with local veterans in Slayton (Murray County)
  • Met with local officials and residents at the Heritage Wind Power Learning Center in Lake Benton (Lincoln County)
  • Spoke at the Landmark Bistro in Marshall as part of the monthly Schwan Speaker Series (Lyon County)
  • Convened flood preparation meeting with local officials in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Visited with area residents at the Log Cabin Drive Inn in Tyler (Lincoln County)
  • Visited with local veterans at VFW post in Worthington (Nobles County)
  • Delivered remarks at the Grand Opening of the Hormel Institute Expansion in Austin (Mower County)
  • Met with local officials and residents at Gramma's Kitchen in Fulda (Murray County)
  • Convened Innovation Forum at Rochester Community and Technical College (Olmsted County)
  • Met with local veterans at the St. Peter American Legion (Nicollet County)
  • Met with local officials and residents at Blue Line Café in Worthington (Nobles County)
  • Toured Gauthier Industries in Rochester (Olmsted County)
  • Discussed the Rochester Green Fleet Bus Retrofitting Carbon Emissions Reduction Program with area officials (Olmsted County)
  • Toured Alzheimer's research facilities at Mayo Clinic (Olmsted County)
  • Convened a panel of elected officials and medical professionals in Rochester to discuss regional disparities in Medicare reimbursement (Olmsted County)
  • Addressed attendees, spoke with soldiers and base commander Mike Funk in Kosovo via live satellite feed at a Serving our Troops Event (Olmsted County)
  • Spoke at deployment ceremony for A Battery, 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery (Pipestone County)
  • Spoke with members of the local Kiwanis Club in Pipestone (Pipestone County)
  • Participated in the annual Farm Fest Forum in Redwood Falls (Redwood County)
  • Public meeting at Calf Fiend Café in Redwood Falls (Redwood County)
  • Met with members of the Redwood Falls Economic Development Corporation (Redwood County)
  • Stopped by Max's Grill in Olivia to provide a Farm Bill update with an emphasis on locally grown foods (Renville County)
  • Attended and toured Farm Fest (Redwood County)
  • Participated in a Farm Bill update with local officials and farmers at Coffey Haus Café in Luverne (Rock County)
  • Toured Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center (Renville County)
  • Visited with area residents at the Prairie House Restaurant in Gaylord (Sibley County)
  • Met with area veterans at the Owatonna American Legion on Memorial Day (Steele County)
  • Met with local veterans at the VFW in Waseca (Waseca County)
  • Met with students and faculty at Shattuck St. Mary's School (Rice County)
  • Discussed the "Madelia Model" with members of Rural Advantage (Watonwan County)
  • Toured closed Winona bridge and met with local officials (Winona County)
  • Met with elected officials and MNDOT representatives regarding the bridge closing (Winona County)
  • Spoke at groundbreaking for GEVO biofuels plant in Luverne (Rock County)
  • Stopped at the Yellow Medicine County Courthouse in Granite Falls to discuss transportation issues and U.S. Highway 59 funding (Yellow Medicine County)
  • Presented a copy of the Congressional Record to Mankato in recognition of their selection as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" (Blue Earth County)
  • Toured JIT Companies in Green Isle (Sibley County)
  • Toured and met with officials from the energy-efficient Blue Earth County Justice Center in Mankato (Blue Earth County)
  • Provided a Farm Bill update to area agricultural leaders (Brown County)
  • Met with area residents at the City Hall in Windom (Cottonwood County)
  • Visited local farm in Blooming Prairie (Steele County)
  • Attended the memorial service for the victims of the tragic school bus crash in Cottonwood (Cottonwood County)
  • Visited Mantorville shops and met with local residents (Dodge County)
  • Convened Tourism roundtable in Wabasha (Wabasha County)
  • Held a public meeting with residents and local officials at Finne's Café (Dodge County)
  • Met with area residents at the St. Luke's Care Center in Blue Earth (Faribault County)
  • Visited communities hardest hit by the August floods, including Goodview, Minnesota City, Stockton and Rushford. Also went on a helicopter tour of the flooded area (Fillmore, Houston and Winona, and Olmsted Counties)
  • Toured Itron, Inc. in Waseca (Waseca County)
  • Met with the Lanesboro area Chamber of Commerce (Fillmore County)
  • Met with local farmers and officials to discuss disaster assistance and flood recovery efforts in Freeborn County (Freeborn County)
  • Met with mayor to discuss local issues in St. James (Watonwan County)
  • Met with area residents at Trumbles Restaurant in Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
  • Toured and met with officials from Red Wing Shoes in Red Wing (Goodhue County)
  • Met with Goodview-area community leaders to discuss flood recovery efforts (Goodview County)
  • Toured Peerless Chain manufacturing business in Winona (Winona County)
  • Met with area residents at the La Crescent High School (Houston County)
  • Met with Houston-area community leaders to discuss flood recovery efforts (Houston County)
  • Met with local officials to discuss the Lewis and Clark Water Project (Rock County)
  • Met with Jackson residents at Santee's Café to answer questions and discuss concerns (Jackson County)
  • Met with coop members and local farmers at the Cenex-United Farmers Coop in Le Sueur (Le Sueur County)
  • Visited with area residents at the Palace Theater (Rock County)
  • Met with local leaders to discuss energy and other issues of local importance, including the Farm Bill (Lincoln County)
  • Met with area residents to discuss water issues (Rock County)
  • Attended an Economic Development Forum with local officials at Marshall's YMCA (Lyon County)
  • Spoke with Fairmount residents over pizza at Jake's Pizza (Martin County)
  • Took a tour of the Hormel Facility in Austin (Mower County)
  • Visited with diners at Crossroads Bakery in Gaylord (Sibley County)
  • Visited County Host Café in Slayton to meet with residents (Murray County)
  • Convened meeting with local officials to discuss transportation issues (Steele County)
  • Met with area residents at the Country Kitchen in St. Peter (Nicollet County)
  • Tour of Apogee and meeting with employees and area residents on economic development (Steele County)
  • Convened a panel at Gustavus Adolphus to discuss college campus efforts to combat climate change (Nicollet County)
  • Public meeting at the Steele County Administrative building (Steele County)
  • Finished up 87 county tour, visiting Worthington to judge the Great Gobbler Gallop on King Turkey Day (Nobles County)
  • Met with stakeholders in the Bio-Business Center project and with Mayo executives on health care (Olmsted County)
  • Participated in a Farm Bill Hearing in Pipestone (Pipestone County)
  • Visited with area residents at the Hay Daze Festival (Waseca County)
  • Spoke at Gilfillan's Farm Fest Agriculture Forum (Redwood County)
  • Toured and met with leadership at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (Waseca County)
  • Attended a Farm Bill update with members of the Southern Minnesota Sugar Beet Cooperative (Renville County)
  • Met with local officials to discuss federal grants for the Darfur Dire Station (Watonwan County)
  • Discussed the efforts of the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative to help reduce substance abuse among youth (Rice County)
  • Held an Elder Center Forum at the Faribault Senior Center to discuss family care-giving issues (Rice County)
  • Met with Mayo High School students, including Carbon Buster award winner Brian Rodysill, to discuss climate change efforts (Olmsted County)
  • Met with Rushford-area community leaders to discuss flood recovery efforts (Rushford County)
  • Met with area residents at the Bittersweet Coffee and Gifts and attended the Sauerkraut Days festivities in Henderson (Sibley County)
  • Attended a "Communities for a Lifetime" presentation on aging and social service issues in the county (Steele County)
  • Toured and met with employees of ABC Daycare in Plainview (Wabasha County)
  • Toured the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and met with NEC visitors (Wabasha County)
  • Met constituents at the State Street Bistro and attended an Agriculture Open House held by the University of Minnesota Extension and Outreach Center (Waseca County)
  • Met with area residents at the Stray Cat Café in St. James (Watonwan County)
  • Visited with area residents and Veterans at the Railroad Days Pork Chop Supper (Watonwan County)
  • Met with area residents in the Winona State University commons (Winona County)
  • Joined state and federal officials for a discussion on the importance of USDA Rural Development Grants to Greater Minnesota (Mower County)
  • Toured closed Winona bridge and met with local officials (Winona County)
  • Toured SMI & Hydraulics, a wind turbine manufacturing facility (Yellow Medicine County)