The Woodward News

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June 20, 2010

Fathers big part of 4-H program

Michelle Seeber Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Ashlynn Cook loves her dad.

So when the 10-year-old learned a 4-H Father’s Day event was in the works, she jumped at the chance to get involved.

Last Wednesday morning, Ashlynn and 9 of her 4-H companions got together  in the conference room of the Woodward County fair building and prepared a luncheon they would share with their dads in celebration of the special day.

“We made ham and turkey sandwiches with tomatoes and onions and lettuce,” Ashlynn said, noting they served the sandwiches with lemonade or water.

“We also made cupcakes that were (decorated) like steaks on top of them,” she said.

In addition to the food, the group made sun glasses holders out of neckties and crafted picture frames, putting portraits of them with their dads in the frames, she said, noting “he doesn’t have sunglasses so I’m going to get him some for his Father’s Day gift.”

But that wasn’t all Ashlynn and her fellow 4-H companions did for Father’s Day.

According to Brian Cook, Ashlynn’s father, his daughter and the other kids also created cards in which they wrote about favorite activities with their dads.

During the event, “the kids read their cards to their dads,” he said. “They (also) got up and said what they liked about us as fathers.”

One of the things Ashlynn wrote about was cooking grilled steak together, he said.

In addition to sharing  the affectionate messages, the 4-H group played games with their dads, such as stacking 6 apples to be “the first one to get it stood up,” Brian said.

“It’s surprising how hard that is," he said.  "Then we went outside and they put an apron on us and put shaving cream on our faces. They competed to see who could shave us the fastest with a popsicle stick.”

Brian, a former 4-H member himself, said he enjoyed the day.

“It was very thoughtful of the 4-H group to put that together,” he said.

“Anytime I can get away with my kids, I enjoy it,” he said, noting that he has another daughter Hallie, 6, and his wife Carrian Cook is expecting to deliver their third child this July.

Ashlynn admitted she  found the day to be “exciting.”

“I had a very fun time, because I love to have fun with my dad, and he had a great time too,” she said.

Melanie Matt of the OSU Extension Center helped organize the event.

“This is our second year for this,” she said. “We did it, because it’s such a hit.  And for Mother’s Day, our youth are in school and during class time make gifts and cards for their moms. In the summer they don’t have that opportunity (for Father's Day, so we thought we’d provide that for them.”

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