Christopher Vondracek
Agriculture Reporter
AgricultureVondracek has reported on prairie dog lawsuits in the Black Hills to federal education policy in Washington D.C. A native of Faribault County, Minnesota, he’s a graduate of the University of South Dakota, holds an MFA from Hamline University, and taught college English for many years in Winona and St. Paul. His debut collection of poetry, Rattlesnake Summer, was published in 2020, and his memoir, Dancing with Welk, in 2022. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Carrie, and daughter, Rosie.
Latest from Christopher Vondracek
Agriculture
Two Minnesotans in Congress will lead Democrats in farm policy
Sen. Klobuchar was long expected to reign atop her party’s farm state voices in the Senate. But when Rep. Angie Craig, the suburban Democrat, mounted a campaign to capture her chamber’s ranking-member spot on the Agriculture Committee, Minnesota voters gained rare congressional leverage.
January 10, 2025
Greater Minnesota
Longtime Bois Forte tribal chair resigns, citing her mental health
Catherine Chavers oversaw the historic land reclamation in 2022 and steered the tribe through COVID.
January 3, 2025
Greater Minnesota
18 years ago, federal agents raided this Minnesota meatpacking town; residents fear Round 2
A generation after a seismic immigration raid, residents of Worthington see the raid’s long shadow, but also change, in their community.
December 28, 2024
Agriculture
Sen. Amy Klobuchar named top Democrat on Senate farm committee
A day after Rep. Angie Craig took the ranking-member spot in the House, the Minnesota senator was named to the same position in the Senate.
December 18, 2024
Agriculture
Rep. Angie Craig wins top Dem post on House Agriculture Committee
The Minnesota Democrat was elected by her colleagues to the ranking member spot, as the committee is expected to work on a new farm bill.
December 18, 2024
News & Politics
Members say Angie Craig is strong contender to be top Dem on House Ag
The Minnesota Democrat aims for the ranking member post in the next Congress, but some are sticking by Democrats’ current leader.
December 11, 2024
Agriculture
Minnesota Driftless-area dairy farm loses at appeals court in bid to add more cows
Daley Farm of Lewiston, Minn., had argued variance should be approved owing to, in part, a Winona County board prejudiced against dairy farmers.
December 11, 2024
Health Care
FBI offers $50K reward for information about UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer
No new breakthroughs were reported Saturday in the intensive hunt for the person who shot the Minnesota health care executive in New York City. The NYPD has offered a reward of up to $10,000.
December 7, 2024
Agriculture
Rep. Angie Craig wins top Dem post on House Agriculture Committee
The Minnesota Democrat was elected by her colleagues to the ranking member spot, as the committee is expected to work on a new farm bill.
December 18, 2024
News & Politics
Members say Angie Craig is strong contender to be top Dem on House Ag
The Minnesota Democrat aims for the ranking member post in the next Congress, but some are sticking by Democrats’ current leader.
December 11, 2024
Agriculture
Minnesota Driftless-area dairy farm loses at appeals court in bid to add more cows
Daley Farm of Lewiston, Minn., had argued variance should be approved owing to, in part, a Winona County board prejudiced against dairy farmers.
December 11, 2024
Health Care
FBI offers $50K reward for information about UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer
No new breakthroughs were reported Saturday in the intensive hunt for the person who shot the Minnesota health care executive in New York City. The NYPD has offered a reward of up to $10,000.
December 7, 2024