American-Made Holiday Gifts from South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa

If you're like me finding new ideas for holiday gifts year after year can sometimes be more of a burden than a Christmas joy.

Plus, maybe you're looking for something uniquely American to give as a gift. You might find this is a bit of a trip on the struggle bus too. But it doesn't have to be. This is where the Alliance for American Manufacturing comes in.

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The Alliance for American Manufacturing is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for the growth of American manufacturing. They educate the public and policymakers on topics like trade laws and market practices.

Every year they come out with their Made in America Holiday Gift Guide with a huge array of unique items from all 50 states.

For this article, we'll check out what they found this year in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

South Dakota

In our state, they went out west to find the holiday gift company you should try. Pine Clad Candle Co. is a small Black Hills family business. They make hand-poured soy candles and wax melts with the scents of nature. In particular, you could fill your home with the smells of the season with their Black Hills Christmas or Balsam Fir candles.

Everything they do is made to order and all American made, from the wooden wicks to the jars for the candles. This would be a truly special holiday gift for anyone and would be a showcase for a uniquely South Dakota-made product.

Minnesota

Winter warmth and high fashion are what you'll be giving the person who receives Steger Mukluks from you. This small business in Ely, Minnesota manufactures these beautiful, warm, lightweight, but not inexpensive footwear items, which are all handmade.

The company was founded in 1985 and has grown to a point where it produces 12,000 pairs of mukluks each year which are sold around the world.

Iowa

Madrid, Iowa, a small city northwest of Des Moines is the home for one of Iowa's best American-made products, Bannor Toys. Another small family-run business, they produce safe, battery-free toys from sustainably harvested wood and use organic paints and finishes.

You can buy your baby a South Dakota, Minnesota, or Iowa baby rattle along with tons of other great and truly creative toys.

Iowa got another shout-out for the Amana Woolen Mill in the historic Amana Colonies. Described by the Alliance for American Manufacturing as being a "beacon of American craftsmanship for over 160 years."

You can get a wide assortment of woolen items from scarves to blankets to holiday stockings which are woven right there in the same building they've been in since 1855.

See the rest of the great American-made items for each state at the Alliance for American Manufacturing.