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
Minnesota medtech firms increase lobbying as tariff costs pile up
Medtronic, Abbott Laboratories and Boston Scientific all increased lobbying by at least $100,000 for the first quarter of year.
June 9, 2025
Bushel Boy, Minnesota’s local tomato grower, sold
The president of Owatonna-based indoor produce grower confirmed the sale of its assets to Best Boy Farms.
June 4, 2025
Rural Minnesota officials still ‘don’t know what we did’ to get on federal sanctuary list
National sheriffs group says Department of Homeland Security list could hurt relationship with White House, as county boards take up the topic.
June 4, 2025
He won’t talk about his service in Vietnam. His children got a glimpse on his Honor Flight.
Doug Heiken, a veteran from Grand Rapids, Minn., shared a trip to Washington, D.C., with his son and daughter.
June 3, 2025
Northern Minnesota worried recent dip in Canadian visitors portends slow summer
The economy of Cook County, nestled between Lake Superior and the Canadian border, is driven by tourism. A lot of the tourists are from Canada.
May 31, 2025
Fed’s new immigration ‘sanctuary’ designation for rural Minnesota counties leaves officials baffled
County officials say they are following the law, as far as they know, and they have failed to get any answers on why they are on the list.
May 30, 2025
Trump administration puts Minnesota counties on immigration ‘sanctuary’ watch list
The ramifications of the federal government’s list were not immediately clear.
May 30, 2025
Uncertainty persists for Minnesota farmers, businesses as courts toggle tariffs
An appeal from the Trump administration has initially stopped a U.S. Court of International Trade ruling that would have blocked sweeping tariffs across the globe.
May 29, 2025
Northern Minnesota worried recent dip in Canadian visitors portends slow summer
The economy of Cook County, nestled between Lake Superior and the Canadian border, is driven by tourism. A lot of the tourists are from Canada.
May 31, 2025
Fed’s new immigration ‘sanctuary’ designation for rural Minnesota counties leaves officials baffled
County officials say they are following the law, as far as they know, and they have failed to get any answers on why they are on the list.
May 30, 2025
Trump administration puts Minnesota counties on immigration ‘sanctuary’ watch list
The ramifications of the federal government’s list were not immediately clear.
May 30, 2025
Uncertainty persists for Minnesota farmers, businesses as courts toggle tariffs
An appeal from the Trump administration has initially stopped a U.S. Court of International Trade ruling that would have blocked sweeping tariffs across the globe.
May 29, 2025