Minnesota is located in the north central United States, near the geographic center of North America. Minnesota is the 32nd state to enter the Union on May 11, 1858.

Fact 1:    If you drive from the Canadian border on the north down to the Iowa border on the south, you may go through at least two season changes on the way. If you start on a day in late April, you’ll see snow on the ground, about noon you will be in central Minnesota, where the snow and ice have melted. When you reach farther south that afternoon, trees are full with leaves, farmers are finishing up their plowing and it is spring time. It will be spring time up north about a month later than the southern part of the state.

Fact 2:    While driving from the north down to the south border you may feel like you have driven through several different states, the reason for this is that the state has three types of terrains. Grass land plains and prairies are to the west and south of the state, coniferous forest are to the north, and to the east is the hardwood forest, which was once known as the “Big Woods.”

Fact 3:    In October 2014, Minnesota employers added 9, 5000 jobs, which dropped the overall state unemployment rate to 3.9 percent, the lowest since 2006.

Fact 4:    The state of Minnesota has seen a huge increase in the craft beer and spirits industry, and Minnesota wines continue to win awards at international competitions.

Fact 5:    Andrew Zimmern, the chef, producer and “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” host is known for his gonzo brand of culinary exploration. You can find Andrew Zimmern in the food truck AZ Canteen, Minnibar at the Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, and he notoriously attends all 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair.

Fact 6:    Betty Crocker-this General Mills icon of domesticity is recognized around the world. Invented in 1921, she debuted in the 1924 “The Betty Crocker School of the Air” in Minneapolis. It was the nation’s first radio cooking show and eventually made a national debut on NBC. Betty Crocker may have hit her apex in 1945; she was voted the second most popular woman in America. The Mill City Museum in Minneapolis has Betty Crocker memorabilia on display.

Fact 7:    Located in Bloomington, MN; The Mall of America is the nation’s largest shopping and entertainment destination. It has over 520 stores, 50 restaurants and the biggest indoor Nickelodeon theme park- Nickelodeon Universe. Other fun-filled attractions available to guest are the SEA LIFE Aquarium, LEGO Imagination Center, American Girl Store, Theatres at Mall of America and Moose Mountain Adventure Golf. And best of all there is no sales tax on clothing or shoes!

Fact 8:    The great heritage of Minnesota’s state park system starts at the source of America’s greatest river. Itasca State Park is home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River, it was established in 1891, beginning what is now the second-oldest state park system in the nation. Itasca remains one of the most adored of the state’s 67 state parks.

Fact 9:    You can find plenty to do in the snow, from snowshoeing in the woods to the adventure of a dogsled trip. There are over a dozen downhill recreation areas for both ski slopes and snowboarding terrain parks; some of the ski hills have on-site lodging. Across parks and forest statewide you can find miles of beautiful, groomed cross-country trails. There are over 20,000 miles of well-groomed snowmobile trails and plenty of places to carry on the ice fishing tradition.

Fact 10: In 2004, milk was adopted as the official drink of the state of Minnesota