[1] From the small town of Bricelyn, Beckman, a corn processing plant manager, consultant, hardware store owner and former teacher, earned a reputation as a strong advocate for agricultural issues, processing of agricultural products, small business development, rural economic development, job creation, education, crime prevention and health care during his time in office.
[1] While in the legislature, Beckman was a member of the Senate Agriculture, Crime Prevention, Economic Development and Housing, Education, Employment, Energy and Community Development, Finance, Government Operations and Reform, Jobs, and Veterans committees, and of various sub-committees relevant to each area.
[1] Beckman ran for Congress against incumbent Gil Gutknecht in 1998 in Minnesota's old 1st Congressional District.
Prior to the current re-districting, the district encompassed most of southeastern Minnesota and was a heavily Republican area.
In February 1999, Beckman resigned his Senate seat after he was appointed Minnesota State Director of the Farm Service Agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.