August 15, 2023

Dear John:

The Congressional Western Caucus came to Minnesota's 7th District! I was joined by Representatives Pete Stauber (MN-08), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), and a number of staff for a production agriculture field tour.

We toured Ralco, where we learned abut how they've been helping producers convert nutrients to growth for decades.

We saw the how Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative operates and discussed the impact the sugar industry has on western Minnesota communities, the challenges they are facing, and what Congress can do to help.

At Archer Daniels Midland’s (ADM) corn processing plant outside Marshall, we toured the facilities and learned all about the corn supply chain.

We toured a CHS plant, where we saw how technology has improved the agriculture industry and the importance of investing in the tools that make the industry successful. 

On our tour of Tru Shrimp’s Balaton facility, we learned about the company's advancements in domestic shrimp production and the contributions of this process, including in the medical field!

Finally, we toured Christensen Farms, one of the largest family-owned pork producers in the U.S. We learned about the family's efforts to further integrate their production model by partnering with processors and packers.

The Western Caucus' effort to show Members of Congress and their staff all the different kinds of places that exist across this great country is wonderful and so important. I was proud to bring Members out to Minnesota's 7th District to see the great things people are working on and also learn more about what rural communities need and the ways Congress can truly help the American people.

You can read what the other Members thought of the trip here.