The Small Town That Makes the Best Markers

What makes a place feel like home?

In Episode 2 of Made Across America, we head to Waseca, Minnesota—a charming town of 10,000 people in southwest Minnesota where American manufacturing, small-town values, and pride in craftsmanship come together like potatoes, beef, and cream of mushroom soup in tater tot hotdish (we call casseroles “hotdishes” here in Minnesota, FYI).

Waseca (pronounced Wah-SEE-kah) may be small in size, but it’s rich in history and heart. On brand with the state nickname of “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Waseca boasts not one, but two lakes within city limits.

The episode takes us inside the Rhino Marking & Protection Systems facility, where we meet the team that manufactures the most reliable marker post in the industry: the TriView® marker post.

With their triangular profile and proprietary blend of thermoplastics, these aren’t just posts, they’re the above-ground lighthouses that protect vital infrastructure like gas, electric, and fiber optic lines by warning excavators of their presence. The TriView was patented in 2000 and quickly became the industry leading marker post and can be found in every state across the USA.

The durability of the Triview marker post is one of its standout features—engineered to withstand extreme weather, vehicle impacts, and years of sun exposure without fading, splintering, or cracking. Its unique three-sided design ensures 360-degree visibility, while its flexible polymer construction allows it to bend and rebound to an upright position when hit at speeds up to 55 mph. But why tell you when I can show you?

But now I’m looking for fresh, creative ideas for my next impact demonstration. What should we hit it with next? Got a wild concept? We’re all ears.

Ok, let’s get back to the folks at Waseca.

What I love most about this episode is that it captures something we often overlook: manufacturing isn’t just about machines and materials, it’s about the community where that manufacturing takes place. When we talk about how we are an “American manufacturer”, this is what we mean: a company where people are proud to work and produce the things that protect what powers American’s everyday lives.

If you watched to the end of the video, I have to ask: do you think us Minnesotans have an accent?

I’ll admit I think it’s as noticeable as a brightly colored TriView …