Platteville farm retailer a total loss after Sunday fire; owner plans to rebuild

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Officials said a Platteville agriculture retail store is a total loss following a fire Sunday morning, though no injuries were reported.

Platteville Fire Chief Ryan Simmons said firefighters were dispatched at about 8:50 a.m. Sunday to Vondra Ag Service, 7200 Wisconsin 81, for a report of smoke coming from the building. Simmons said it took about 45 minutes to get the fire contained and that seven nearby fire departments assisted with the response.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, Simmons said.

Simmons did not yet have a dollar dollar estimate on the damage but said but the building is a total loss. 

Brady Vondra, owner of Vondra Ag Service, said he lost everything in the fire, including inventory, paperwork, computers and furniture. The business serves farmers and sells Beck’s Hybrids seed, crop protection products, fertilizer and other farm-related products.

Despite the loss, Vondra said his business will continue to operate out of a temporary location until he can rebuild. Vondra said he likely will use his family farm, located at 4996 Wisconsin 81, which is where the business originally was located when he first opened in 2016.

“We still want to make sure the community knows that we’re strong and we’re going to keep going,” Vondra said. “We’re going to rebuild back better than ever, and we’re going to persevere through this.”