At 5 p.m., on Saturday, March 30th, an inaugural event took place at the Sparta American Legion, at 1116 Angelo Road, in Sparta, Wisconsin. Chad Schauf, Operations Manager at the Legion Hall, spent months organizing the first-time fundraiser, which was a dual money raiser for the American Legion and The Fallen Outdoors (TFO). TFO is a national nonprofit organization, whose mission is to organize outdoor adventures for both active duty military members and all Veterans having served in all branches of the United States military, who were honorably discharged.
The evening’s events had several irons in the fire, such as raffles, comradery, and a chicken dinner, but they all centered around the honoring of Sergeant Major Robert D. Culpitt, a fallen soldier, who grew up and lived in Sparta, who had battled with the demons he brought back with him, from having served two tours in Afghanistan. Suffering from PTSD, Culpitt lost that battle, taking his own life, on May 1st, 2022.
Chad Schauf – Legion and The Fallen Outdoors Prostaffer
According to event organizer, Chad Schauf, The Fallen Outdoors is a nationwide 501 C., with each state being an autonomous nonprofit. “The beauty of being autonomous is that we have our own finances and our own checking account,” Schauf explained. “So, everything that we generate here [banquet], stays in Wisconsin. And tonight, a good portion of the money will stay in Sparta, as the Legion will share in the funds raised.”
Schauf further explained that the monies raised for The Fallen Outdoors are most often used to hire guides for the hunting or fishing expeditions. “There is never an expense to the Vets — not a dollar,” Schauf stated. “Lots of the trips are donated, but there are costs for other essentials, such as gas, equipment, food and various supplies, and the funds we raise fill in those gaps.”
Schauf’s Entrance to Prostaffer
The wealth of knowledge that Schauf shared with the Herald came from having been associated with TFO for only six months. “I started following the group on Facebook, thinking, ‘Maybe I can get a free fishing trip,’” Schauf quipped with the Herald. “I was taking Vets fishing, and I would post our adventures on their page. Then someone from the organization asked me, ‘Why aren’t you a Prostaffer?’ Well, I filled out all the paperwork, and that obligates me to do at least five trips a year — not difficult for someone who has their own bass boat and loves to fish.”
The Fallen Outdoors Wisconsin Group Crushes It
Chad went on to say that there are 20 Prostaffers in Wisconsin, who did nearly 700 trips last year. “That’s just Wisconsin,” Schauf remarked. “We are part of the Midwest region [of TFO] and the region did over 2,000 trips, in one year.”
The Man Honored: Rob Culpitt, Friend, Son, Brother
The fallen Soldier being honored during the evenings program was Rob Culpitt, a best friend of Chad Schauf since grade school. “We had a strong group of forever friends,” Schauf started out. “Right out of high school, we all went into the military, going our separate ways. Rob was a year ahead of me, so he went first. You just never lose that friendship. We would always try to get together, usually during deer season. It was Rob, Ron Zittsman, Brian Waite, Paul Kelsey and myself … we were inseparable … we had so much fun.”
Several people stood and spoke to those gathered about the honor Rob Culpitt displayed daily, for his country, his friends and his family. All eyes were fixated on Kathy Sanders, Culpitt’s mother, when she took the microphone and spoke to her son’s life of battling with his demons and the extraordinary lengths that Rob would go to, to ensure his friends and family were taken care of and comforted.
Nodding in agreement to all the words spoken by Kathy Sanders were members of Silent Rage MC, a motorcycle club that Rob belonged to. Mark Pressler, a member of Silent Rage, and proclaimed Brother of Culpitts, stated, “Rob was a brother’s brother. He was the guy who would take your call at 3 a.m., get out of bed, and head your way. For sure, my world and the club’s world are a far lesser place without my Brother, Rob, in it.”
Chad Schauf, visibly moved and affected by the words spoken, took the microphone and stated, “We all knew Rob was struggling. Rob was dealing with some pretty wicked demons from having served two tours in Afghanistan. Now he is part of the 22 statistic.”
Schauf went on to tell the Herald that Rob being gone really fuels his desire to keep helping other Veterans. “I talked to Rob’s family about honoring him at the event, thinking that we would honor him every year. Then I thought, ‘Rob would not want us to honor him every year. Heck, he would be upset that we dedicated an entire display to him tonight … but he deserves it. So, we are going to put a committee together and will be asking for people to nominate a fallen Veteran. We will honor one a year.”
National $22 for 22
One of the programs that was promoted during the evening’s happenings was $22 for the 22, which is a monthly donation of $22 that goes directly to the National Fallen Outdoors organization, for exactly what Schauf explained in his interview with the Herald — getting Veterans outside for some sort of activity involving fresh air and nature.
The 22 refers to the number of Veteran suicides, per day, that occur in the United States. The numbers come from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and is astonishing to many folks, regardless of how many times they hear it reiterated. Anyone wishing to be a part of this program can go to their website, at https://thefallenoutdoors.org/22forthe22/
Nick Kibler – Wisconsin Team Lead for TFO
Nick Kibler is the Team Leader for the Wisconsin chapter of TFO. Originally from Onalaska, Kibler now lives in the Stevens Point area. He spent 6 years on active duty, having served two tours in Afghanistan. Kibler worked on Black Hawk helicopters as his Military Occupational Specialty, or MOS. “I wouldn’t take a day of it back,” Kibler stated to the Herald.
The Herald pressed Kibler on what the day to day is like, versus the actual expedition adventures with the Vets. “There is a lot of work that we put in on the backend, but when we are out hunting or fishing, and you get to talk with that Vet, sharing similar stories, in the outdoors … that is everything.”
The Herald asked Kibler for some examples of past trips and connections with other Vets. “I would take people out catfishing on the Mississippi because I grew up on it and I know how to fish it really well,” he started to explain. “I have a pontoon boat that was set up with all the lights, so I could take five to 6 people out at a time. It works out well, especially when a Vet does not want to come alone. They can bring a friend, or their spouse along too.”
Kibler’s Favorite Memory Connection
Nick Kibler drew quickly on a story, when asked what his most memorable outing or adventure was. “We went on a coyote hunting trip and there was this one Veteran who just sat on his couch and drank; he was always depressed. After he went hunting with us, he was all in, and I witnessed the proverbial switch flip. Now he gets out of the house often, and even bought his own fishing gear. It sends chills down my spine to know we may have saved his life. There are Vets that are really gaining from what we do. We are not just an organization — we are a community.”
Cody Scheidler - Assistant Team Lead
Cody Scheidler and his wife, Samantha, drove 9 hours, just to be at the TFO event. They were vacationing in Kentucky but wanted to support the inaugural banquet. Cody Scheidler served with the 273rd SAPPER Company, Combat Engineers.
Cody Scheidler was the person that was originally contacted to run the Wisconsin chapter of The Fallen Outdoors. “I was already helping out with Fishing with Vets, when I was contacted by several different people, in 2015, asking me if I would be interested in starting a Fallen Outdoors in Wisconsin. I hemmed and hawed over it for a bit, until my wife kicked me in the butt to do it.”
On the Wisconsin start up, Scheidler said, “I think we ran three or four trips that year, as there were only four of us. In 2016, I brought on 5 or 6 more people, and we went on 45 trips that year, which I thought was good. In 2017, we had 168 Veterans, and in 2018 we jumped to over 700 Veterans, going on hunting and fishing expeditions. In 2019 we went over 800 and in 2020, we put 1,002 Veterans out.”
In the beginning, Cody had a lot to contend with, in figuring out the dynamics of the nonprofit organization. “It was 100% a learning experience. For me, it was trying to figure out how to get things done, on the legal end of things. Actually filing for the 501 C. in the state of Wisconsin, the additional paperwork, and trying to get people to donate ... it bordered on insanity.”
Scheidler spoke candidly with the Herald, about the early days of the Wisconsin TFO. “Honestly, those first couple years, a lot of money came out of the staffer’s own pockets. We were in a spot, mentally, where we were able to start helping other Veterans. We found that hunting and fishing provided that perfect conduit. It gives you that one-on-one comradery, especially with a larger group of Veterans. We all have that bond of Brotherhood and understand each other, where other people cannot relate.”
The Culmination of Veteran Energies and the Spouses
A common scene that was painted by Chad Schauf, Nick Kibler, and Cody Scheidler, was that Veterans respond really well with other Veterans. There is nobody in the world that can understand the ebbs and flows of military life and combat as well as other military members and combat Veterans.
Cody told the Herald that taking on the starting up of The Fallen Outdoors, more than likely, saved his life. “My wife will tell you that this saved me from the dismal path I was heading down. I was heavy into drinking and drugs, and I needed an outlet, other than getting high all the time.”
Cody was quick to add that his wife embarked on this journey with him. “My wife, Samantha, helps me out with a lot of events,” Cody started out. “She is right there, helping out at sports shows, and she explains to the spouses what their husbands or wives are going through and what kind of release of pressure this is, or would be, for their spouses, as well.”
In addition to the events that Cody’s wife helps out with, he says that she will also talk with Veteran’s wives on the phone. “It has been a whole-family thing. We have three children and even they will come to events to help out. They walk right up to Veterans and thank them for their service. They will then say how happy they are that they are back.”
When They Knew it was a Lock
The Herald asked Scheidler if he remembered when he knew TFO had found its legs and would survive. “Absolutely! We had started a pheasant hunt up in Chippewa, and we were going to take out 20 Veterans. I was two weeks into the preparation, and I already had all the birds paid for, all the food paid for, and I still had companies contacting me that I had not even reached out to, asking how they could be a part of the hunt … I knew we were solid at that point.”
Back to the Banquet
Chad Schauf started out the banquet with the Pledge of Allegince, before officially welcoming everyone in the packed hall. Chad asked the members of Rob Culpitt’s family to stand, and there were over 50 people who stood up. It was a moment where tears were not being held back, and overwhelming energies of sadness, gratitude and connection meshed and swirled amongst the attendees.
Legion Commander, Tim Hyma, then read the Pow/MIA Remembrance Service, for the table set for one, which recognizes and acknowledges that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks. A large photo of Rob Culpitt loomed large, right next to the table for one.
Keri Schauf and Jaiden Schauf
Chad Schauf’s wife, Keri, spoke to the passion of her husband, as he had been working toward the fruition of the evening’s events. “Chad used to do the Turkey Banquet for years, and he has been so much more passionate about this, because it is so much closer to his heart.”
Keri then gave an example of Chad’s passion for Veterans and the United States as a whole. “He has always taught us the respect of the military and standing at attention for the National Anthem,” she told the Herald. “He gets emotional every time. He will even stand at home, before a football game.”
Jaiden Schauf, Chad and Keri’s daughter, is a junior in high school. “Personally, I have learned a lot about Veterans through my dad, who served as well,” Jaiden started remarking. “It makes me so grateful for being an American and those who fought for it. It is very close to my heart.”
Keri Schauf stated that Jaiden and she were willing to help out Chad, however they could. “He only had three months to prepare, so you can bet that next year be bigger and better, as now he has this one under his belt, and an entire year to get donations and prepare.”
Keri spoke to the amazing businesses that donated to the banquet for TFO. “Our community is so great! Once they heard that this was for the Veterans, they were ready to help out, however they could.”
Of her father, Jaiden said, “I feel very proud of my dad, for putting this on, and I think he did a really good job.”
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