Ben Wieman

Ben Wieman graduated from Sibley East High School. He attended Minnnesota State University, Mankato and earned an associate degree from Ridgewater College - Hutchinson in 2012. His career experience includes working as an engineer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up on a dairy farm west of Arlington, MN. While growing up I was in 4-H (showed goats/cattle, Share the Fun, Computer and Video projects), FFA (Dairy Foods, State Band, National Band), and attended Minnesota America Legion Boys State 2006.

After graduating High School, I was the "black sheep" (pun intended) of the family by going off to college for music performance and audio engineering. The education I gained at MNSU and Ridgewater Hutchinson empowered me to great opportunities in the Pro Audio/Video industry that I wouldn't have had otherwise. These opportunities lead me to the Twins Cities, Oregon, Tennessee, and even Australia (a life goal to live there)!

Unfortunately, COVID hit and Australia nicely asked me to leave, so back to the Arlington farm I went. I would pick up some odd essential jobs at that time while working and living on the family farm. I eventually rejoined the Oregon AV manufacturer as a remote employee, and I work there to this day as my main source of income (Biamp Systems). Now able to buy a home, I did so just north of Arlington where I'm currently living today. My duties as an Audio Video Applications Engineer involve many hats, typically working with people around the world to achieve a common technical A/V goal, and often working with missing or misleading information, then sorting out what's real and coming to a consensus on the solution. In my spare time I love performing music of whatever style.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Agriculture is the backbone of our rural community and a big part of who we are. I want voters to know I will stand up for small farms, family farms, and the next generation of young farmers who want to build a future here. Rural communities stay strong when agriculture stays strong. That means supporting policies that help family operations stay profitable, protecting local producers from being pushed aside, expanding opportunities for beginning farmers, and investing in infrastructure that helps agriculture succeed. When we support agriculture, we support local businesses, schools, and the entire rural economy.Strong public schools are essential to strong communities. I believe every child in rural Minnesota deserves a high-quality education no matter their zip code. Our schools should be fully funded so that local districts are not forced to rely more and more on property taxes just to meet basic needs. When the state does not do its part, rural homeowners, farmers, and local communities end up paying the price. I want to make sure our schools have the resources they need to support students, retain teachers, and provide the opportunities our kids deserve while keeping the burden off local property taxpayers as much as possible.Fairness means making sure rural Minnesota is not overlooked. Too often working families, farmers, and small towns feel like they are paying in but not always getting the same level of attention, investment, or opportunity back. I believe tax policy should be fair, responsible, and respectful of the pressures people already face. We need to make sure public investments reach Greater Minnesota and that local communities have a real voice in the decisions that affect them. Fairness also means honoring our commitment to veterans. I'm not a fan of war, though when someone serves our country we should make sure they have access to the benefits, support, and respect they have earned when they come home.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am especially passionate about agriculture, education, rural economic development, and fairness for working families and veterans. Agriculture is central to life in our district, so I care deeply about the future of family farms, rural businesses, and local communities tied to that economy. I am passionate about education because strong schools create opportunities for young people and help communities stay relevant. I also care about policies that strengthen rural healthcare, childcare, infrastructure, and workforce development, because those issues directly affect whether families can stay and thrive here. Above all, I care about making sure rural Minnesotans are heard and treated fairly in St. Paul.