We wish the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation a happy 25th birthday.

The organization was born as a reaction to the farm crisis of the 1980s. Since then, it has been a leader in the region’s economic health, at times spotting trends when others could not and making the right investments, grants and loans.

It has taken care of our children, supported entrepreneurs and been there in the wake of disasters.

Many parts of the United States do not have the same sort of regional-collaboration-and-contribution foundation, let alone one this outstanding. Southern Minnesota does, and we are better off for it.

Thanks, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.