Terry Rieckman began his teaching career in the fall of 1983 in the Chester Area School District as a student teacher. My mother, then known as Jolene Hohwieler, was a junior in high school at Chester that year. Little did either of them know that three decades later, Mr. Rieckman would teach Jolene's children as well, 35 miles away at McCook Central in Salem, South Dakota.
Rieckman addresses a packed gymnasium during his final banquet speech as students, alumni, and community members listened closely. An FFA jacket balloon floated above the crowd.
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Rieckman holds up a retirement plaque presented to him by students and community members as the crowd gathers around him after the banquet.
Rieckman takes in a video tribute from former students during his retirement banquet, featuring messages from dozens of alumni whose lives he touched over four decades.
Tucker Peterson, Rieckman's grandson, addresses the banquet after being elected McCook Central FFA chapter president for the 2026-27 school year, the final announcement of Rieckman's last banquet.
Born and raised on a farm in southeastern South Dakota, Katelyn currently resides in Sioux Falls. She enjoys attending SDSU football games (her alma mater), going to farmer’s markets and visiting her parents at their family farm. Reach her at kwinberg@tristateneighbor.com.
Katelyn Winberg
Agricultural Reporter
