Hormel Foods Corp. plant employees raised more than $141,000 for the United Way of Mower County this year. Plant employees set another record this year after raising $132,000 last year. -- Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com

The United Way of Mower County got an early Christmas gift this year: A record $141,000 from Hormel Foods, Inc. plant workers.

“This is amazing,” said Mandi Lighthizer-Schmidt, executive director of UWMC.

Plant workers know the value of UWMC. Several employees say they used the YMCA $1 membership growing up, which the United Way helped fund.

“The donated money stays local,” said Justin Benson, quality control supervisor.

Lighthizer-Schmidt said UWMC’s campaign drives grew by 25 percent over the past five years thanks to Hormel employees, local businesses and Austin residents.

“This is not the norm,” she said.