Growing up near Kiester, my family had beautiful vegetable gardens. Between my mom, my aunt and grandfather, we grew tomatoes, carrots, onions, rhubarb, potatoes – pretty much anything you can think of that could end up as a meal on our plates. Every spring, summer and fall, the garden and its cycles of growth and nourishment was a constant presence in our lives, regardless of … [Read more...]

In 1986, an economic crisis had shaken Greater Minnesota. Farms across the state faced bankruptcy and rural communities suffered. Accordingly, young people were leaving the small towns that had nurtured them in search of opportunities elsewhere. These developments created uncertainty about the future of rural Minnesota. In the midst of that “farm crisis” the urban-based … [Read more...]

One of my proudest moments as a congressman was voting to support the creation of the national AmeriCorps program 25 years ago. Little did I know at the time how central this program would become to our culture of volunteerism and giving back to our communities. Even more surprising, and delightful, to me is the fact that I am now president of an organization that has stewarded … [Read more...]