Takeuchi: Siliskie Land Management

Luke Siliskie

Siliskie Land Management

Luke Siliskie of Mackinaw, IL grew up with a passion for working outdoors and has been able to turn it into a rewarding job.

Luke was always exposed to the forestry industry, as he had family members who worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as well as the U of I Forestry Office, which kickstarted his appeal for that type of career. Over time, he developed the skill for doing home improvement projects around his family’s property and found that he enjoyed that type of handson work and wanted to pursue it.

Over the past several years, Luke had been doing various land improvement projects for family members, friends, and local landowners in the area. Eventually, in September of 2020, Luke decided to turn this passion of his into a business venture and started Siliskie Land Management.

Today, with the help of his Takeuchi skid steer, and a few mulchers and attachments, Luke does a variety of projects for his clients. On the agriculture side, he clears field edges and fence rows for farmers. He also removes hanging tree limbs and encroaching vegetation that competes with crops for sunlight and moisture.

Additionally, he does quite a bit of work in forested areas. “I can open up overgrown timber tracks from undesirable species or invasive species so that the natural vegetation and even the marketable timber can thrive and become healthier,” says Luke. He also frequently clears out brush to create trails through properties for hiking, riding, access to other areas, and property line maintenance. The work Luke does each day calls for reliable equipment that he is confident will get the job done, which is why he chooses Takeuchi. “I have operated almost every other manufacturer of equipment over the years, and have always been more impressed with the Takeuchis than the others,” he says. Luke currently operates a Takeuchi TL12R2 Track Loader. It has the power and maneuverability he needs and has been an essential part of his efficiency on the job.

When beginning his business, he chose to buy local and purchased the machine from his friend and Central Illinois Ag salesman Adam Davis. “When you buy quality equipment you don’t have to worry about seeing your dealer too much, but Adam is always checking in with me to make sure everything is going well,” says Luke.

Today, Luke still owns and operates Siliskie Land Management Inc. on his own and is grateful for the size of his small business, which he believes preserves the family atmosphere and allows him to build relationships with each of his customers. It is extremely rewarding to him each time he gets to customize a unique property and bring the landowner’s vision to life.

“I have always been able to look at a property and visualize how it could look with certain changes or improvements,” says Luke. “When the landowner sees these improvements carried out for the first time and sees how they can benefit them moving forward, it is such an enjoyable process to be a part of.”