By Tyler Lamb
Editor
Lifelong Walworth County resident, Letha Kuecker, was recently named as one of two honorary marshals for the 164th Walworth County Fair.
The fair board selected Kuecker of Elkhorn and Katie Benhart of Geneva Township for the honor as honorary fair marshals. As marshals, the duo will preside over a number of duties that include cutting the ceremonial ribbon during the fair’s grand opening ceremony. This year’s fair commences on Aug. 28 and concludes on Sept. 2.
“Kathy and I were invited to breakfast by one of the fair board members,” Kuecker recalled. “At that point we had no idea what was coming. They then told us we were nominated, and I was very surprised but also very honored.”
Early years
Kuecker (formerly Madaus) spent her formative years on farms in the Walworth and Elkhorn with her parents, two brothers and a sister.
An active member of the Walworth County 4-H programs since joining the Walworth-Sharon 4-H at the tender age of 10, Kuecker said 4-H taught her how to everything from sew to showing dairy cattle and chickens at the county fair.
“The fair has been a part of my life since I was 10 years old,” she said. “It has meant so much to me over the years.”
Life as an educator
Following three years of high school at Walworth High School and a senior year as a member of the first graduating class of Big Foot High School in 1959, Kuecker attended Racine-Kenosha County Teachers’ College where she earned her teaching license.
Her first teaching post was 3rd grade at Lakeview School in Whitewater. During this period Kuecker also took classes at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education.
After teaching for three years at Delavan Elementary (now Wileman), Kuecker spent the next 31 years in the Lake Geneva School District. She ultimately finished her career in 1998 teaching middle school.
“As an educator, I taught for 37 years, a long time,” she chuckled. “I started out with just a two-year certificate. At that time you could do that.”
Kuecker also managed to earn her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from UW-Whitewater.
In 1989 the Elkhorn native was named Teacher of the Year by the Lake Geneva School District, and a year later she was among the first group of recipients of the Kohl Educational Foundation Achievement Award.
4-H
According to Kuecker, when her sons reached 4-H age she began volunteering as a project leader for Springfield 4-H, and also later served as a co-general leader for several years.
In addition, Kuecker has served on a wide variety of 4-H committees and boards at the county, district, state and national levels; including the State Adult 4-H Leaders’ Council, Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Board of Directors and the National 4-H Strategic Direction Team.
As a Resource Advocacy Network member, Kuecker has communicated state and federal elected officials regarding budget and policy issues vital to the Cooperative Extension and UW System.
As a member of 4-H, Kucker has received numerous awards for her work, including the Walworth County Alumni of the Year in 1995, the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation “Friend of 4-H Award” in 1996 and the “Outstanding Service Award” from the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Board of Directors in 2002.
As a co-superintendent of the county fair’s Youth Exhibits Building, Kuecker works with Benhart in order to present the work of youths in an attractive and insightful way for fair-goers to learn about the 4-H program while they visit the building.
In addition to her 4-H work, Kuecker volunteers at the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department Jail Administration office and at First Lutheran Church and School in Lake Geneva.
Family
For nearly 50 years the Walworth County Fair has been a yearly event for Kuecker and her husband, Richard, she said. In the past, the couple has shown Holstein dairy cattle in open class for many years.
Her sons, David and Brian, also showed Holsteins and Jerseys, respectively, in junior and open show as 4-H and Future Famers of America members. Presently, Kuecker and her husband assist with the junior and open dairy shows yearly.
Richard and Letha Kuecker have been married for 48 years.
