Celebrating Vet Tech Week: How NICC Alum Jacob Leuchtenmacher is Shaping Future Vets at ISU

Good local journalism takes time. Your support helps make it possible. CALMAR, Iowa — For Jacob Leuchtenmacher, a passion for animal care began on a small family farm outside Elgin. Growing up with a deep interest in animal health and husbandry, especially large animals, choosing Northeast Iowa Community College for his veterinary technician training was a natural decision. Leuchtenmacher was initially drawn to NICC because of Iowa's Dairy Center, located on the college's campus. As a fully operational farm with more than 100 cows, the center provides students with direct access to modern dairy herd management and large animal care beginning in their first semester. After earning a bachelor's degree in animal science from Iowa State University and gaining industry experience working on export and quality assurance teams at a beef processing facility, Leuchtenmacher enrolled in NICC's Production and Companion Animal Veterinary Technician program in 2022. Jacob Leuchtenmacher "NICC fostered a lot of growth in my fields of interest, and the compassionate folks that work there made my experience wonderful," he said. Hands-on technology and industry-standard trainingA cornerstone of NICC's program is ensuring students train on industry-standard technology so they can enter the workforce with confidence. "Dr. Anne-Kristi Lee was a wonderful mentor with real-life experience and a desire to see us all succeed," Leuchtenmacher said. "Jackie Langreck is an extremely talented microbiology instructor who took the time to ensure we all feel comfortable and confident in the material that we were presented with in lecture and genuinely cared about our values, unique experiences and personalities." Leuchtenmacher also served as a student member of the college's Production and Companion Animal Advisory Board and received funding through Iowa's Last Dollar Scholarship program, which helps cover tuition for students pursuing high-demand careers. While the coursework was rigorous, he said faculty members helped him manage the personal challenge of setting high standards for himself. "The instructors of the program do a fantastic job at grounding you and coaching you on things that went well and how you may be improved the next time," Leuchtenmacher said. Serving in large animal emergency care and teachingDuring his time at NICC, Leuchtenmacher completed a rotating internship at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Following his graduation in 2024, he was offered a full-time position at the university's Large Animal Hospital, where he works today. "No two days look identical for me, and that is one of the joys of working in an emergency hospital," Leuchtenmacher said. "I get to triage emergencies, collect and run in-house diagnostics, prep for procedures and surgeries, and, being a teaching hospital, train fourth-year veterinary students technical skills during their clinical year." His work ranges from teaching safe handling of equine patients to performing medical procedures such as placing intravenous catheters and nasogastric tubes. He also participates in public outreach, representing Iowa State at regional events such as the Iowa Horse Fair. Leuchtenmacher encourages prospective students considering NICC to embrace unexpected career paths and build strong support networks. "Have an open mind!" he said. "Never did I think that I would be working at an institution training the next frontline in veterinary medicine, but here I am and I am loving every minute of it." Don't miss what's happening around Decorah. Get the news in your inbox.