Jerry Schluter
Ririe
Jerry Schluter of Ririe is being inducted into the 2013 Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame for his extensive contributions to agriculture and community.
Having farmed for over 60 years, Schluter operates over 3,000 acres of ground located in the Birch Creek area. Although much of his farm has been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, he still spends many hours in the field spraying or doing whatever to make his ground look immaculate.
One of the areas in which Schluter has made a great contribution is his involvement with youth in the Ririe area. As a volunteer, Schluter worked for many years as the FFA advisor and as the golf coach at Ririe High School. He has provided a very positive influence to the area youth mentoring them and encouraging them to be involved with agriculture to keep the industry strong. He has also coached basketball, baseball and donated parking access for snowmobilers and recreationalists.
Schluter has received many awards, including the Conservationist of the Year by the East Side Soil and Water Conservation District. This recognition was given for Schluter’s stewardship of the land. Recently, he enrolled 200 acres in the Sharp Tail Habitat program, disking the field himself, just prior to having surgery. He has also been honored by the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game for putting his farm in the “Access Yes” Program.
By some standards, Schluter ran a smaller dry farm, but is considered to be a great conservator of the land as he has shared his ideas with other farmers making direct contribution to their conservation efforts.