HICKORYTECH CORP.
Business: Regional telecommunications firm
Founded: 1898, as the Mankato Citizens Telephone Co.
Headquarters: Mankato
2010 revenue: $162.2 million
2010 earnings: $12.1 million
Employment: 460
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The political reaction to the state budget outlook played out like a preview of the 2026 election.
![Hormel headquarters in Austin, MN. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Friday September 11, 2015 Despite woes throughout the food industry, partly due to consumers turning away some from processed foods, Hormel has managed to continue prospering -- even though a good part of its business -- Spam, chili -- is about as processed as you can get. But the company's turkey and pork offerings are riding a hot protein trend. And over the past two years, it's made some of the biggest acquisitions in](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/527MWWMEXAN6BDVVGMMGBOERGU.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)