WITH ONLY DAYS until Christmas, hostess and other last-minute gifts purchased locally are great options. I’m most familiar, of course, with what can be found in Faribault. But I have a few ideas from neighboring communities also.
First up, Faribault. We are nationally and internationally-known for the Faribault Mill, previously the Faribault Woolen Mill. The mill’s high-quality woolen blankets and throws are its signature products sold at its factory store, in several Twin Cities metro locations, online and elsewhere. I have several of these high-end blankets gifted to me through the years. They’re not inexpensive. Selections range from traditional patterns to Peanuts designs (which I hear are incredibly popular with Gen Z; especially Snoopy) to the artwork of Adam Turman. His art is more Minnesota centric with loons, Up North outdoors scenes and nature themes on mill throws.
Handcrafted cheeses aged in sandstone caves along the Straight River in Faribault are a tasty gift for anyone who appreciates blue, Gouda, Gorgonzola and Swiss cheeses. These are award-winning cheeses. I always have a Caves of Faribault cheese in my refrigerator. This is top-notch cheese available locally at HyVee Grocery and in many other retail locations in Minnesota and across the country. Other local artisan cheese makers include Shepherd’s Way Farms, rural Nerstrand, and Cannon Belles Cheese, Cannon Falls.
Also wildly popular in the food category is Cry Baby Craig’s gourmet hot sauce, made in the heart of historic downtown Faribault. It’s gained a following in the metro and beyond. My son-in-law from Wisconsin loves this sauce crafted with ingredients sourced from area farms. As with Faribault-made blue cheese, there’s always a bottle of CBC in my fridge. It’s available for pick-up right at the Central Avenue location and elsewhere. I just picked up three bottles of three different sauces the other day.
Cry Baby Craig’s recently partnered with 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers a block away to craft Lokal Vodka infused with pickled pepper brine and CBC hot sauce. The distillery also creates plain vodka and key lime, blood orange and meyer lemon Lokal Vodka. So if someone on your gift list appreciates vodka and you want to support local, head to 10,000 Drops. Loon Liquors Distillery in neighboring Northfield also does vodka and other hard liquors.
Minnesota wines, including from Vintage Escapes Winery just to the west of Faribault in rural Kilkenny, would be a good hostess gift. Or coffee, roasted at Mighty Fine! Coffee, next to the distillery in Faribault.
This may seem like an odd gift, but handcrafted European style butter from Hope Creamery in small town Hope (south of Faribault along Interstate 35) is something I’ve always wanted to try and which I think would be an excellent gift for anyone who loves to bake. It’s sold in Hope and also at select grocery stores (including at Fareway and HyVee in Faribault) inside and outside the metro.
For the art appreciator, I recommend the letterpress art of Craig Kotasek of Tin Can Valley Printing. He uses old school letterpress to create prints, greeting cards and more. I’m perhaps a bit biased given Craig worked at the same weekly newspaper, The Gaylord Hub, where I worked as a reporter and photographer right out of college. Craig worked on the printing side, many years after me. His art is sold at select locations in and around his Le Sueur business base.
I love books. And our area has some great independent bookstores to buy books for the book lover on your list. Content Bookstore in Northfield. Little Professor Book Center in Owatonna. And, new to Faribault, Books on Central, a volunteer-run used bookstore owned by, and benefiting, the Rice County Area United Way. Housed in a former jewelry store, this bookshop features a central vintage chandelier, built-in shelves and drawers, and friendly, helpful staff. It’s a stunning, cozy space with a remarkable, high-quality selection of used books at reasonable prices. Yes, I’ve already purchased several books here, nearly all Minnesota centric.
Which brings me to my last suggestion. The Talking Stick, an anthology published by the Jackpine Writers’ Bloc, features a collection of fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry by Minnesotans or those with a strong connection to Minnesota. Any of the anthologies would make an excellent gift for the book lover on your list. And, yes, I have writing in the latest edition of TS and many years prior. The anthology can be ordered online.
That’s it, my ideas for gifts that are mostly from my region. Happy last-minute shopping Minnesota style.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I would welcome any and all of these, especially the Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce, and the cheese and any of the books with your writing pieces in them –
Thanks for appreciating these Minnesota centric gifts.
Wonderful to know your writing group of so many years has published so many stories poems etc.
i ordered h 2023 for my dear 97 year old friend there in Rosemount. Have a Merry Christmas. Thank you for all the fun local stories and businesses you shared. lov
Kathy
Kathy, thank you for ordering TS 2023 (volume 32, Twist in the Road) for your friend in Rosemount. I think she will enjoy the writing by Minnesotans or those with a strong connection to our state. I have three pieces in the anthology, including a creative twist fictional story which won honorable mention.
Just to clarify, The Talking Stick is a project of a northern Minnesota based writing group, not one I’m in. Getting published in TS is a competitive process. This is truly a labor of love by the Jackpine Writers’ Bloc.
oh very nice. congratulations on getting your pieces published. wonderful.
Thank you, Kathy.
Wonderful list! I love to shop local and have done a lot of it this year.
I love how much you support local. I bet you bought some books again this year to give.
We’ve been through more than a few bottles of Cry Baby Craig’s in just the short time we’ve lived in Minnesota. It adds something extra to a surprising number of food items! 😊 But not oatmeal. 😞
Thank you for buying Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce and supporting a Faribault business. It is good on many foods, but definitely not oatmeal. Just had my daily breakfast bowl laced with fruit.
These are great ideas Audrey. Thank you.
You are welcome. I’m sure I missed a lot of other good local options. But my post was getting too long.
Loving your post today and great gift ideas too 🙂 I love finding that unique or special or one-off gift and if I can support a local business even better. I love cooking and baking and sharing that with others too. The best gift is time with loved ones! Happy Holiday Season – ENJOY!!!
Thanks for shopping and supporting local, Renee. You’re right. Time with family is the best gift. My son flew in from Boston last Thursday evening so I’ve been savoring my time with him. To wrap him in a hug after a year apart swelled my heart with love. So so happy he’s in Minnesota for a while.
Ahhhh – so nice for you to spend some quality time with him 🙂
I am one super happy mama! He’s had to work remotely. But he’s still under our roof–sleeping, eating with us, being present to engage in conversation… Last evening we ate out at his favorite pizza place, Basilleo’s Pizza 2.0. He always wants to go there when he’s back in Faribault. It is the BEST pizza I’ve ever had. We always order the same pizza, which is spicy Italian sausage. So good!
YUM Pizza! It is nice to have those working options. I know I like the flexibility, especially during the Holidays (if slow can work more remotely otherwise in the office). ENJOY 🙂
Yes, so thankful he could work remotely while in Minnesota.
Great post, Audrey! Shop local! 🙂
Thanks, Penny.
Fantastic local gift ideas! I love reading the Talking Stick!
Thanks for appreciating local and The Talking Stick.
Thanks Audrey, good ideas. I will have to record this list for next year or for birthdays. I contacted the Jirik’s Family Farm near Shieldsville and bought a case each of their maple syrup and honey to use for family gifts.
That’s a great idea, Virgil. Local honey and local maple syrup. If I make a list like this next year, I will do so earlier and also try to remember to include your suggestions.