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Peterson saved local jobs in 7 th District [UPDATED]
Published 10:06am Monday, December 3, 2012 Updated 12:12pm Monday, December 3, 2012Local jobs are at the heart of what we do at Miller Manufacturing. We employ 135 people full time at our factory and distribution center in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Because of our top-notch staff of Minnesota workers, we are able to produce quality, American-made farm and ranch products, at a price that competes successfully with cut-rate, offshore goods.
A few years ago our position was threatened — and with it Minnesota jobs — when a competitor knocked off our line of backyard poultry products that we have manufactured for more than 50 years in Minnesota, and had them made in China. To add insult to injury, these inferior China products are labeled with the 4-H emblem which is funded by the U.S. Government through the Department of Agriculture.
We believed that this was clearly improper use of the 4-H emblem as per 4-H policy which prohibits the use of the emblem to imply endorsement of products. We also believed it was not appropriate for a U.S. Government-funded organization to license products made in China and therefore putting U.S. jobs at risk.
We brought our concerns to U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, who took action to keep jobs in Minnesota. He and his staff worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and as a result of Congressman Peterson’s efforts, this unfair practice, and in my opinion abuse of a national treasure, will cease at the end of this year.
The Seventh District is fortunate to have a congressman who is responsive to Minnesota business and working to protect American jobs.
On behalf of all our dedicated employees in Glencoe, thank you, Rep. Peterson and staff, for your efforts.
Dan Ferrise
CEO, Miller Manufacturing Company
