Bjorn Solberg of Halstad has officially received the DFL endorsement for Minnesota Senate District 1, launching a campaign focused on rebuilding rural Minnesota “From The Ground Up”.
Solberg is the owner of Hugh’s Gardens LLC, a certified organic storage and packaging facility that works with Red River Valley family farms and has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds of potatoes to regional food banks. His work in agriculture, hunger relief, and local food systems has shaped a campaign rooted in practical rural issues facing northwest Minnesota communities every day
His campaign priorities include keeping rural hospitals open and staffed, expanding childcare and affordable housing access, strengthening farm-to-school programs, improving broadband and water infrastructure, protecting small and mid-sized family farms, supporting trade and apprenticeship pathways, and rebuilding trust between rural communities and state government. Solberg comes from a multigenerational farming family whose roots trace back to an 1871 homestead, where members of the Solberg family farmed the land for generations. That history informs his understanding of the economic pressures facing rural Minnesota families, including rising costs, shrinking margins, consolidation, and systems that too often push family farmers out instead of helping them survive.
A graduate of Park Christian School and Concordia College, where he earned a degree in social studies secondary education, Solberg has served in local business, food, education, and community leadership roles, including Minnesota Farmrs Union, where he currently serves as Unit Secretary/Treasurer, along with the Cass-Clay Hunger Coalition, Red River Harvest Cooperative, and West Central Minnesota Food Council.
“People want systems that actually work,” Solberg said. “They want to raise families, access healthcare, protect their land, build a future, and live with dignity in the communities they call home.”
Solberg’s campaign emphasizes practical investment in rural communities, local economic empowerment, workforce development, clean water protection, healthcare accessibility, and stronger support for the farms, families, and small businesses that keep northwest Minnesota alive.
“Rural Minnesota should not be treated as an afterthought,” Solberg said. “This campaign is about making sure the people who feed this state, build these communities, and keep them running finally have a strong voice at the Capitol.”
Solberg’s campaign slogan, FROM THE GROUND UP, reflects his belief that lasting progress begins by investing directly in local communities and the people who hold them together. For campaign updates, volunteer opportunities, or additional information, visit BjornForMinnesota.com
