 Governor Walz announced that Minnesota is ranked the second-best state in the nation for children, according to a new report from SmileHub. Minnesota ranked first in support system strength, third in family and working life, and among the top five states for overall child well-being and life expectancy.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and in Minnesota, we’re making that possible,” said Governor Walz. “From investing in early learning and affordable child care to creating nation-leading programs like the Child Tax Credit and Paid Family and Medical Leave, we’re helping families build stability and opportunity. This ranking reflects what Minnesotans know best: when we put children and families first, our entire state grows stronger.”
This recognition follows several other recent national rankings that reflect Minnesota’s continued commitment to children, families, and communities, including being named a Top State to Raise a Family and the Third-Best State for Health Care.
 On Wednesday, Governor Walz visited a grain and cattle farm in Faribault to highlight the impacts of the Trump Administration’s trade policy on Minnesota farmers. Tariffs have severely reduced the market for soybean farmers to sell their goods abroad, resulting in billions in lost sales and financial strain on rural communities.
“President Trump’s trade war has taken a wrecking ball to the farm economy, decimating family farms as crop prices crash, operating costs soar, and farmers are locked out of global markets,” said Governor Walz. “This is a man-made crisis, caused single-handedly by President Trump. Minnesota will continue to stand up for those who feed and fuel the world.”
Soybeans are Minnesota’s largest agricultural export with approximately two out of every three rows of soybeans sold abroad. During the 2025 harvest season, farmers have faced mounting challenges from federal trade policy and retaliatory tariffs, leading to the loss of key export markets, lower commodity prices, and financial strain.
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