Both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators spoke at a campaign event in Adel Thursday.

Senators Joni Ernst, Charles Grassley, and other local Republican candidates spoke to a crowd inside Big Al’s barbeque to support Republican candidates on the ballot, including Ernst. Big Al’s Owner Al Laudencia talked about how Senator Ernst inspired him to open his own business, “Seven years ago I was a waiter, and I had the opportunity to wait on Joni and her gang, and we got to talking about southwest Iowa, and we got to become friends. She’d ask me, ‘What do you think you want to do?’ I told her, I said, ‘I’m starting this business and eventually I’d like to own my own place.’ She said, ‘Al, if you believe in it, and you work for it, I’m going to help you get there, we’re going to help you get there.’”

The public event was part of Ernt’s “Fighting for Iowa Tour.” Ernst spoke about how important it is to visit and listen to Iowans where they’re at, “I think it’s really impactful because those who are taking the time to come meet with you, they are obviously very enthusiastic. It’s just a great way to get together to celebrate what we have going on in Iowa, and it will spread the word.”

Ernst is on the ballot for U.S. Senate against Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.