Simulating big brother

When Logan Schuelke was in grade school, his triplet brothers Carter and Josh were already involved in sports. Logan was never into sports or joining other activities, so he basically just stayed at home.
But a push from his late older brother is what eventually led to Logan recently earning the coveted State FFA Degree from the State FFA Association at a banquet in Litchfield. He was one of 262 FFA members from Region 5 to earn the degree.
"Donnie didn't just suggest that I join FFA, he made me do it," said Logan, now a Minneota High School senior. "I'm glad he made me do it, It's been great. He was a great role model."
Donnie IV, the son of Donnie III and Julie Schuelke, was killed in a single-vehicle rollover nearly four years ago. Logan and his brother were "very close and did a lot of things together", which made Logan want to forge ahead with his goal of earning the State FFA degree because he knew that's what Donnie would have wanted.
"I was just a homebody," Logan explained. "Carter and Josh would be involved in sports and other things and I would just sit around at home. Donnie made me get out of the house and get more involved."Logan is now involved in Robotics, National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl and FFA.
"Donnie was involved in all of these things, too," Logan said. "When he earned his State FFA degree, that's when I knew I wanted to earn mine, too."
To earn the degree, FFA members must meet several requirements. One of those requirements is to receive the Chapter FFA Degree, which is earned after an FFA members achieve the chapter levels of Discovery and Greenhand. The Discovery and Greenhand levels require certain amounts of involvement
"I earned the Discovery level the first year I was in FFA," said Schuelke. "And then I finished the Greenhand level a couple of years ago."
The State FFA Degree is given to the top members of a State FFA Association. To receive a State FFA Degree members must meet these requirements before they apply:
(1) Have received the Chapter FFA Degree.
(2) Have been an active FFA member for at least two years.
(3) While in school, have completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level, which includes a supervised agricultural experience program.
(4) Have earned and productively invested at least $2,000 or worked at least 600 hours in excess of scheduled class time, or a combination thereof in a supervised agricultural experience.
(5) Demonstrate leadership ability by: (a) Performing 10 procedures of parliamentary law. (b) Giving a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or the FFA. (c) Serving as an officer and/or committee chairperson of a participating member of a chapter committee.
(6) Have a satisfactory scholastic record as certified by the agriculture instructor, principal or superintendent.
(7) Have Participated in the planning and completion of chapter program of activities.
(8) Have Participated in 10 different FFA activities above the chapter level.
(9) Have participated in at least 25 hours of community service, within at least 2 different community service activities. These hours are in addition to and cannot be duplicated as paid or unpaid SAE hours.
Logan met the requirements as a junior, but decided to wait another year before applying. FFA membership degrees are awarded based upon a student’s ability to follow a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
"I just felt I could have done better," he explained. "So I earned more volunteer hours by being employed with (Curt) Buysse Angus for my SAE."
As required, Logan had some help in becoming a chapter officer and/or committee chairperson.
"When I was in my first year of FFA, Donnie filled out all my paperwork to be an officer and even forged my name," Logan laughed. "I didn't even know he did that.”
"And then Donnie then told me they were ready for my interview and I didn't know what he was talking about. I told him I wasn't going to do that, but he made me. So my (interview) responses were as vague as could be. I don't know how I was able to be an officer after the answers I gave, but I'm sure Donnie had something to do with that, too."
And when Logan looks back on his FFA career and how much he has enjoyed it, he is so grateful that his brother forced him to join.
"It has been so much fun and so educational," he said. "I've met so many friends. FFA members do things together year round and it's like we are one big family. I owe it all to Donnie."
Logan's FFA jacket that he got when he was a freshman no longer fits him. So he has been wearing Donnie's jacket. And the golden chain and golden charm that Logan received for achieving the State FFA status will hang right next to the name on the jacket.
"Donnie's name is still on the jacket," Logan revealed.
And every time Logan looks at the name on his jacket, it's a subtle reminder of how he now understands why his brother forced him to join FFA.