SW Iowa Times

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) concluded her 99 county tour across Iowa Sept. 2 in Sioux County. 

She met with local leaders and business in Orange City, KTIV reported. 

This year the tour began at a tech start-up in Warren County, according to Ernst's website. Ernst traveled the state to witness first-hand accounts from local residents and businesses, eager to learn more about what she can do for the people she serves. 

In a Sept. 2 tweet following the conclusion of the tour, Ernst posed with a slice of pizza outside Casey's General Store, writing "99" in commemoration of her journey. 

Ernst launched the tour in 2015 with a town meeting in Red Oak, according to her website. At that time, she stated that continuing to complete a 99 county tour across the state to visit as many residents as possible would be a priority for her each year. 

Through town meetings, visiting manufacturers, small businesses, hospitals, schools and more, she said the goal is to hear residents' concerns, ideas and questions first-hand as she moves across the state, according to her website. 

The tour gave Ernst the ability to take actions her residents want to see by using what she learns in each county to inform decisions in Washington, according to her website. In a map of her travels, the public see where she visited and what she learned at each county on the trip.