Eminent Farmer
County: Deuel
John Luecke has been actively engaged in farming for 33 years while continually working to make his community a better place to live.
He began farming in Hughes County, farmed in Sully County, and for the past 22 years has farmed in Deuel County. His livestock operation includes 700 ewes, 80 sows, 500 "grass" calves and 100 head of stock cows.
He has been recognized twice as Jaycee Outstanding Young Farmer and was second runner-up on the state level for this award.
Because of his management expertise, in 1993 Luecke was honored as South Dakota Master Lamb producer. In 1993 he was also appointed State Director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Association and received the Jefferson Award from KELO-Land Television.
Luecke is described as a person with a "can do" attitude. As an active community leader, he helped charter the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative and served as its first chairman. He served on the Deuel School Board for six years and formed a community track board which developed a new track, football field and stadium complex for the school system. Twenty years ago, he and his wife, Pat, organized the first Deuel County Booster Club which is still active in supporting school activities from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Luecke is active in his church and has served as youth leader, Sunday school teacher and deacon. He has helped with the Southeast Pierre Indian Mission and participated in mission trips to Kentucky and Africa.
Other community involvements are not neglected. Luecke is an active member of the Deuel County 4-H Leader's Association and was a 4-H leader in Deuel County for 10 years. He has served on the local hospital board for the last eight years, serves his local township board, Farm Bureau and Deuel County Pork Producers.
Education has always been a top priority to Luecke. John and his wife, Pat, have four children that all completed college. The Luecke's also housed and raised four foster teenagers in addition to their own four children.