| Born on November 27, 1964 in Winona, Steve grew up with four younger brothers on a family beef and crop farm in Bluff Siding, WI (just 2 miles east of Winona - across the Mississippi River). During his years growing up, Steve learned a great deal about hard work, family, and faith. The farm brought on many long days loading and unloading hay bales, filling silo, making fence, and doing fieldwork. It was from these experiences, as a farm boy, that Steve formed the foundational structure for his values. His family still owns and operates the same farm today.
Steve graduated from Cochrane-Fountain City High School in 1983. During his high school years, he served as senior class president, was elected as a Wisconsin State FFA officer, and participated as a member of the National FFA Chorus. After high school, Steve enrolled in college at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, where he served for two years as the student senate president and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture, graduating in 1989.
Steve worked for 6 months as a temporary Extension 4-H Agent with the University of Minnesota Extension Service in Buffalo, Minnesota. Shortly after, in 1990, he was hired for the position of County Extension Agriculture Agent in Hinckley. In 1994, while working full time and raising a young daughter, he earned a Master of Education Degree from the University of Minnesota. Steve worked in Pine County until late 1997, when he decided to move back to his home territory, landing a position as a regional extension agriculture educator in Wabasha County. He continued to work as a regional agricultural educator for the University of Minnesota Extension Service up until March of 2004. Subsequently, Steve directed Minnesota field operations for Whitetails Unlimited for two years. Steve works in website search engine optimization and marketing with Vision Design Group, a graphics design firm in Winona.
Steve volunteers regularly. He is a DNR Firearms Safety Instructor, Wabasha County 4-H volunteer, and has served in numerous positions within the Minnesota Republican Party at county, district and state levels. He is the past president of the Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council, served many years as Kinsey's Girl Scout troop's cookie sales coordinator, and has judged numerous FFA and 4-H youth events throughout southeastern Minnesota. Steve is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and hunting whenever he gets the chance, and he maintains membership in the National Rifle Association, Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Lake City and Zumbro Falls Sportsmen's Clubs. The Drazkowski family attends church at St Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mazeppa. |