Luchsinger Recognized with AJCA Distinguished Service Award

Charles “Chuck” Luchsinger, Syracuse, N.Y., has been chosen as the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA).

The Distinguished Service Award is presented by the Board of Directors to as many living AJCA members and/or members’ families, who, in their opinion have rendered outstanding and unselfish service for many years and thereby made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States.

Chuck’s life has centered around the Registered Jersey cow. He and his wife, Sue, and their son, Charlie, milk 60 Registered Jerseys on Silver Spring Farms, a venture they are very proud to continue passing down from generation to generation. Chuck and Sue’s daughter, Ali, also is involved part time and their other daughter, Jennifer, lives in Indiana with her husband, Josh Gordon, where they have their own herd of Jerseys.

The latest—and perhaps greatest—joy of Chuck and Sue’s lives has been watching their grandchildren also develop a love and passion for Jersey cattle and agriculture.

Silver Spring Farm has been on an official production and testing program since the 1920s. The farm has contributed to Project Equity since 1990 and joined REAP in 2003.

In addition to the dairy farm, they operate Silver Spring Farm Market, which is open from May to December each year. Their biggest commodities are flowers, hanging baskets and plants, but they also offer other seasonal products such as produce, mums and Christmas trees.

Chuck takes great pride in breeding great cattle and marketing them for others to continue developing. He enjoys seeing animals with the farm’s SSF prefix in their pedigree perform well for their new owners and create the next generation of great Registered Jerseys.

“Chuck’s passion is contagious—he exudes passion for his family, for the game of golf, and obviously for the Jersey cow.  The cow passion is not just for his Jersey herd success, but for many others to succeed by building a herd with profitable Jerseys,” wrote Jeff Ziegler, vice president of dairy cattle breeding at Select Sires Inc., Plain City, Ohio, in a letter of support.

Over the years, Chuck Luchsinger has touched almost every area possible of service for the Jersey cow. He served two terms as a director for the AJCA from 1995-2002 and later filled the void left by the passing of Robin Denniston-Keller from 2013-2024. Chuck also served for nine years as a director of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) from 1993-2002. During his terms, he chaired both the Breed Improvement and Development committees.

A true rarity, Chuck is the third generation to serve the New York Jersey Cattle Club as a director, a role that he has held for over 40 years.

“Chuck is one of those people who can always be counted on to step up,” wrote New York Jersey breeder and Master Breeder Paul Chittenden of Dutch Hollow Jerseys, Schodack Landing. “His willingness to take the lead, serve as a committee member or sometimes just express an opinion that steers others has earned him respect from all who have worked with him.”

A major advocate and supporter of the All American Jersey events, Chuck has served on the planning committee for 43 years. He has seen the evolution of the events, especially having served as the general chairman of the 2006 All American, officiated all three shows and was a judge for the 2013 National Jersey Queen Contest. Chuck also was the 2004 recipient of the Max Gordon Recognition Award.

The Luchsinger family has also exhibited and bred animals that have captured multiple top placings and laurels over the years. They have captured multiple Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners, something that the family takes great pride in.

A highlight for the family was in 1978 was showing the first, second and fourth place individuals in the National Jersey Jug Futurity. Silver Spring Farms also exhibited the 1996 National Junior Champion and bred the National Reserve Junior Champion.

Clint Collins III, Sylacauga, Alab., wrote in his letter of support, “Chuck illustrates extensive contributions to the Jersey breed at a national scale, but his accomplishments at Silver Spring Farms should not be overlooked; he has spent a lifetime promoting the Jersey cow for functional type and profitable production.”

In 1983, Chuck was presented with the AJCA Young Jersey Breeder Award. Fast forward 31 years, Silver Spring Farms was awarded the AJCA honor of Master Breeder at the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings. He and Sue served as the general chairs of the 2009 AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in Syracuse, N.Y., and he was the chairman of the 1978 National Heifer Sale.

In New York, Chuck has been an instrumental member of the New York Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, having served as the Jersey representative for 45 years and president for three terms. His service to this organization earned Chuck the organization’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004. Chuck also spent time as manager of Equity Co-op where he advocated for milk protein premiums while promoting multiple component pricing from 1994-2000.

Luchsinger has an outstanding eye for cattle. This has led him to the center of the show ring for the All American Jersey Show (1995 and 2005), All American Junior Jersey Show (1991), National Jersey Jug Futurity (2013), Western National Jersey Show (2003), and other local, state and national Jersey shows domestically and abroad in Brazil, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

“Chuck never once treated me as a kid without a Jersey background; he always answered my question with respect, offered advice when I most needed it, and respected my opinion on breeding cows without hesitation,” said Jeff Ziegler.  “People like Chuck, that learn from others and are driven to help others succeed, cannot earn enough awards like the AJCA Distinguished Service award represents.”

The Jersey cow and her breeders will forever be positively impacted because of the service and commitment Chuck has dedicated throughout the years.