Cry Baby Craig’s Honored as Industry Partner of the Year by Southeast Service Cooperative for Transformative Work with STEP Program
FARIBAULT, MN – May 9, 2025 – Cry Baby Craig’s, a Faribault-based hot sauce company, has been awarded the prestigious Industry Partner of the Year by the Southeast Service Cooperative (SSC) for its exceptional collaboration with the Cannon Valley Special Education Cooperative’s Secondary Transition Education Program (STEP). The award recognizes Cry Baby Craig’s profound commitment to inclusive employment and its significant impact on young adults with disabilities.
The STEP Program is dedicated to empowering young adults aged 18-22 with disabilities as they navigate the transition from school to adulthood, focusing on fostering independence in employment, daily living, community engagement, and self-advocacy.
Neil Smith, STEP Coordinator for Cannon Valley Special Education, emphasized the profound significance of this recognition. “It highlights the commitment Cry Baby Craig’s has shown to inclusive employment practices and shines a light on how powerful community collaboration can be in creating meaningful opportunities for young adults with disabilities,” said Smith.
Cry Baby Craig’s has provided invaluable hands-on work experience for STEP participants, integrating them into tasks such as packaging, labeling, and general production work. “The company’s willingness to adapt and mentor has made a lasting impact on our students’ sense of purpose and capability,” Smith added. He further noted that Cry Baby Craig’s goes “above and beyond in making our students feel like valued members of their team. They treat our students with dignity, set high expectations, and provide feedback to the STEP Program staff to improve the services we provide.”
Sam Bonin, co-owner of Cry Baby Craig’s, expressed immense pride in receiving the award. “When we came to the city, we were talking about really valuing community, so it was one of our first calls to try to integrate some of the kids into meaningful tasks they could do around the factory,” Bonin stated. “It’s come full circle now that we’ve received awards, which we never expected. It’s just a really nice honor.”
Bonin highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of the partnership. “From a simple output standpoint, these kids are great workers. They show up with positive attitudes every day. They are willing and eager to do pretty much anything that I’ll let them do,” he explained. “They handle the position as if they were a hired employee. They’re very helpful with the bottom line for us, so it’s been great too.”
Beyond the tangible benefits, Bonin shared the deeply rewarding personal impact of working with STEP participants. “I think it’s again getting to know the kids, trying to instill some confidence in them that there’s a place in the world for them and that there’s people willing to help them get to where they need to be,” he remarked. “They’re super fun to be around. It makes it really difficult for me and Craig to have bad days when they’re in the building because there’s such a light atmosphere and they’re so joyful.”
Smith echoed the critical role of industry partners like Cry Baby Craig’s. “They are absolutely essential. Without industry partners, we wouldn’t have the same depth of real-world learning opportunities,” he emphasized. “Our curriculum comes to life when students are able to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to meaningful work. Partners like Cry Baby Craig’s play a crucial role in preparing our students for life after school, and they help model what inclusive employment should look like.”
Both Bonin and Smith urged other businesses to consider similar partnerships. “Partnering with programs like STEP is not just an act of goodwill—it’s a smart business decision,” Smith advised. “Our students bring dedication, reliability, and unique talents to the table.” Bonin added, “There’s a huge need for it, and these kids can do anything!”
Cry Baby Craig’s commitment extends beyond the workplace, with Bonin sharing stories of strong bonds formed and the company’s tradition of providing end-of-year lunches for STEP students and staff. “Every student that we’ve had here has been so unique and wonderful,” Bonin said.
Looking to the future, Bonin confirmed Cry Baby Craig’s intention to continue the partnership indefinitely. “We’ll keep it rolling man. There’s no reason, we have no intention of leaving Faribault,” he stated.
This recognition of Cry Baby Craig’s serves as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of community collaboration in creating a more inclusive and equitable future for young adults with disabilities.
About the STEP Program (Secondary Transition Education Program):
The STEP Program, part of the Cannon Valley Special Education Cooperative, supports young adults ages 18-22 with disabilities in their transition from school to adulthood. The program focuses on building independence in employment, daily living, community engagement, and self-advocacy, preparing students for successful futures.
About Cry Baby Craig’s:
Cry Baby Craig’s is a Faribault-based hot sauce company known for its flavorful products and strong commitment to community involvement. Through partnerships like the one with the STEP Program, Cry Baby Craig’s actively demonstrates its dedication to inclusive employment and making a positive impact on the local community.
About Southeast Service Cooperative:
The Southeast Service Cooperative is one of Minnesota’s nine regional education cooperatives, providing a variety of services to school districts, cities, counties, and other organizations in southeastern Minnesota.
Contact:
Devin Winjum
Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce
Devin@Faribaultmn.org | 507-491-3585