Purdue tailgate legends: The bread truck
Generations of Boilermakers have gathered around this vehicle for 30 years
Core memories from Courtney Lueking’s childhood? Many moments spent around the bread truck converted for Purdue football weekends — times spent dressing up in cheer outfits with her friends, eating favorite tailgating foods and running around the tailgating site. Though she graduated from Purdue in 2025, her time in West Lafayette is far from over.
“I think the next generation of us kids plan on continuing the tailgating tradition for many years to come,” Courtney says. “Hopefully we can tailgate with our own kids here one day. I don’t see our parents slowing down anytime soon either.”
Her parents, Amy and Mike Lueking, started the tradition in 1996. “It makes us so happy to see all of our friends from college at the tailgates each fall, and it is how we stay connected despite all living in different cities,” Amy says. “I’m so happy to have such an amazing group of friends who have become family.”
