He is a walking, talking advertisement for SPAM.

First District Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-Minnesota) does not hesitate in his endorsement of the product.

He serves samples of the world-famous canned luncheon meat to visitors at his congressional office. He knows as many SPAM facts as the most obsessed SPAM fanatic, including per capita consumption figures for the Pacific Rim populations.

He unabashedly wears the true SPAM colors.

So, what was the congressman doing in Austin Monday? Visiting the SPAM Museum, of course.

State Sen. Grace Schwab (R-Albert Lea) joined the congressman for museum manager Shawn Radford's guided tour.

When Julie Craven, Hormel Foods Corporation's director of public relations, invited them to return for the SPAM Museum Jam grand-opening activities June 15-16, both Gutknecht and Schwab were apologetic.

"That's the GOP state convention," reminded Schwab. "Congress is going to be in session that week and I don't think I can get back to the district before that Saturday," said Gutknecht.

The grand opening was to have been last September, but the terrorist attacks on America forced its postponement.

According to Craven the June 15-16 activities will be unmatched. "The interest and excitement is unbelievable," she said.

Carl Pohlad visited the museum along North Main Street in Austin a week ago and was accompanied by Richard L. Knowlton, former Hormel Foods top executive on a tour.

According to Craven and museum manager Shawn Redford, Pohlad was overcome emotionally by the many museum tributes to World War II, when SPAM fed Allied troops and refugees of the war.

The grand-opening schedule Sunday, June 16, features Veteran's Recognition Day with special guest NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw, a fly-over by F16 fighter jets and a massive Sherman tank among other highlights.

Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" inspired Schwab to challenge Riverland Community College graduates to become their own "greatest generation" at this year's commencement exercises.

Gutknecht and Schwab interrupted their museum tour to answer reporters' questions.

If, as critics say, the 9-11 terrorists attacks did, indeed, catch America's security forces sleeping, that is no longer the case. according to Gutknecht who believes they are now "all doing a much better job."

Also Gutknecht said he believes the Bush Administration can strike a balance between national security at a time of crisis and protecting personal privacy.

The new Farm Bill has at least "one good thing " from the old Freedom To Farm Act, according to Gutknecht and that is the provisions that will protect American farmers from counter-cyclical market influences. Also, he said, "It still allows American farmer to decide they will plant in their fields and not the government."

However, Gutknecht said he is worried about agriculture experts' predictions fan over-supply of commodities this fall, which will drive market prices down further.

Schwab continues to hear "keen disappointment" from Minnesotans since the end of the 2002 legislative session.

The disappointment over Gov. Jesse

Ventura's vetoes over the latest bonding bill is bipartisan, according to Schwab, and runs the gamut of issues from no money for the Blazing Star and Shooting Star recreation trails to the 800 megahertz improvements to public safety radio.

"There's disappointment that runs across party lines. People are heart-broken over the governor's vetoes," Schwab said.

While DFLers are saying they will make a transportation packaged the top priority of the next legislative session, Schwab said protecting education from more cuts and balancing the state budget will be her top priorities.

That aside, Gutknecht and Schwab made SPAM their top priority Monday and toured what has become a wholly amazing tourist attraction for Austin.

(Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com)