Former Associated Press agribusiness reporter Christopher Leonard is the author of The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America’s Food Business. Before talking about factory farming’s stranglehold on rural America, he sat down in the Zócalo green room to talk chicken wings, pets, and his green thumb.
What literary character do you identify with?
Boy that’s a tough one. I read so much nonfiction—I’m pretty sub-literary. Alyosha, Brothers Karamazov. He was probably a lot nicer than I am. But he was always trying to do good. That sounds so pretentious … but probably Alyosha.
What’s your Achilles’ heel?
I’m addicted to coffee, for one thing.
How do you react when you’re embarrassed?
I get really quiet.
What’s your favorite chicken dish?
Hot wings—buffalo chicken wings.
Spicy, medium, or mild?
Very spicy. As spicy as possible.
What’s the last purchase that gave you buyer’s remorse?
I think I got fries with dinner the other night, and felt really bad about it.
Did you have any pets as a kid?
I had two dogs. And I had an iguana, but it didn’t live long.
Do you have a green thumb?
Yeah I do, actually. My wife has way more of a green thumb than I do, but I’m really good at digging and hoeing and stuff. So I’m decent.
What music have you listened to today?
The Heist by Macklemore. I hate to be so mainstream. And The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever given someone?
I gave my daughter a hamster when we moved to Washington, and she really loved that thing. I’ll go with that.
What’s your favorite Midwestern food?
Barbecue, no question about it. Gates Bar-B-Q, as a matter of fact. Kansas City, Missouri. It’s the best in Kansas City. I get the barbecued turkey sandwich with fries.