You have to be this tall to legislate

In a bid to honor Faribault's favorite son Herbert Sellner, Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-26B) has proposed a bill (H.F. No. 2354) in the Minnesota Legislature creating a State Amusement Ride, akin to the state flower, drink, muffin, etc., with Sellner's invention, the Tilt-A-Whirl, as the choice. Sellner created the ubiquitous fair ride in his backyard in 1926, and it made its debut at the Minnesota State Fair the following year, one of only nine rides on a Midway that 80 years later would be touted as one of the world's largest.

Herbert's great-granddaughter, Erin Sellner Ward, currently oversees the manufacturing company he formed following the success of the Tilt-A-Whirl. The Sellner Manufacturing Co. produces, on average, 50 rides a year, including other spinning rides, kid-powered mine cars, track rides, and swing rides, for amusement parks around the country. Each Tilt-A-Whirl takes six weeks to construct and costs $375,000. A perfect addition to that water garden in the backyard, next to the cotton candy machine.