Celebrating Vet Tech Week: How NICC Alum Jacob Leuchtenmacher is Shaping Future Vets at ISU
Monday, October 19, 2026
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 for large animal species — choosing Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) for his veterinary technician training was a natural decision.
He was initially drawn to NICC because of Iowa’s Dairy Center located right on campus. As a fully operational, working farm with more than 100 cows, the center provides students with direct, everyday access to modern dairy herd management and large animal care from their very first semester.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Iowa State University (ISU) and gaining hands-on industry experience working on export and quality assurance teams at a beef processing facility, Jacob enrolled in the Production and Companion Animal Veterinary Technician program at NICC in 2022.
"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 Training
A cornerstone of the College’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,” Jacob 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.”
Jacob also served as a student member on 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 the faculty 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," Jacob said.
Serving in Large Animal Emergency Care and Teaching
During his time at NICC, Leuchtenmacher completed a rotating internship at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. Following his graduation in 2024, they offered him a full-time position in its prestigious 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," Jacob 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 invasive medical procedures like placing intravenous catheters and nasogastric tubes. He also participates in public outreach, representing ISU at regional events like the Iowa Horse Fair.
Jacob 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."