Christopher Vondracek
Washington Correspondent
AgricultureChristopher Vondracek has reported on prairie dog lawsuits in the Black Hills to federal education policy in Washington D.C. A native of Wells and Kiester, Minn., Vondracek graduated from the University of South Dakota and taught college English for years before becoming a full-time journalist. A previous agriculture reporter for the Strib, Vondracek also authored a memoir ("Dancing with Welk") and poetry book ("Rattlesnake Summer"). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Carrie, and children, Rosie and Eamon.
Latest from Christopher Vondracek
University of Minnesota Extension cutting 60 county educators due to Trump tax bill
Minnesota SNAP-Ed employees who taught about nutrition and financial literacy could be out of a job.
July 9, 2025
Which Minnesota industries will benefit from the federal budget act?
While tax provisions should help companies, pullbacks from the Inflation Reduction Act and other programs could offset growth for some industries.
July 9, 2025
How will Trump's big bill affect Minnesota?
The Trump administration’s signature legislation cuts taxes, benefits and green energy. Congress approved the bill on Thursday against united opposition from Democrats.
July 3, 2025
Trump’s federal spending bill could force Minnesota counties to raise property taxes
Minnesota administers food stamps through county offices. Critics of the bill say that rather than cutting the program’s costs, it forces counties to pay them through higher taxes.
July 1, 2025
![Tara Nordgren walked home with her son Allan in a stroller and a wagon she had attached by a belt to the handle of the stroller to bring home the groceries she had got at the Anoka County Brotherhood Council food shelf in Anoka, Minn., on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Nordgren works at Burger King but as a single mom needs help with groceries since her food stamps were cut back. She doesn't own a car. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • reneejones@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/M6ODCLDVLDWUGLIFMJT6OQZF3I.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Minnesota agriculture institute joins lawsuit against USDA to save grant funding
Lawsuit targets decisions by Trump administration to cancel agriculture grants that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion, among other goals.
June 30, 2025
djoles@startribune A bright red tractor donated by farmers in rural Minnesota rolled into a tiny village in Burkina Faso last week, planting seeds of hope to impoverished farmers. An entire village in Guatemala is bein](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/U6M2TFLM5SOWZRBALVA3O74JBE.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Federal funding cut could silence tribal, rural radio stations many in Minnesota consider vital
Nearly two dozen stations in Minnesota receive CPB funds, totaling $17.2 million in the last fiscal year.
June 27, 2025
Federal proposal to bar state AI regulations hits bipartisan resistance in Minnesota
While Senate pared back House language, the federal budget bill still includes a 10-year moratorium on state AI regs.
June 26, 2025
Trump’s immigration crackdown straining labor force for Minnesota ag, food operations
The changing of policy this week and last does not help, labor experts said.
June 18, 2025
Minnesota agriculture institute joins lawsuit against USDA to save grant funding
Lawsuit targets decisions by Trump administration to cancel agriculture grants that promoted diversity, equity and inclusion, among other goals.
June 30, 2025
Federal funding cut could silence tribal, rural radio stations many in Minnesota consider vital
Nearly two dozen stations in Minnesota receive CPB funds, totaling $17.2 million in the last fiscal year.
June 27, 2025
Federal proposal to bar state AI regulations hits bipartisan resistance in Minnesota
While Senate pared back House language, the federal budget bill still includes a 10-year moratorium on state AI regs.
June 26, 2025
Trump’s immigration crackdown straining labor force for Minnesota ag, food operations
The changing of policy this week and last does not help, labor experts said.
June 18, 2025