Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: Westminster Eagle - Katie V. Jones: Kathryn Frock touts merits of 4-H life

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Westminster Eagle - Katie V. Jones: Kathryn Frock touts merits of 4-H life

Fair 'queen' touts merits of 4-H life 07/26/06 By Katie V. Jones

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http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2006/08/westminster-eagle-katie-v-jones-kathryn.html

Labels: 4H, 4H Carroll Co 4H FFA Fair, Ag Carroll Co MD Ag Center, People Frock Kathryn, People obituaries

When Kathryn Frock joined 4-H in 1934, there were girl 4-H clubs and boy 4-H clubs. If you lived on a farm and worked with animals, however, you were allowed to belong to a "co-ed club."

In those days the fair was held in Taneytown, before moving to its current location behind the Agricultural Center in Westminster.

To build the buildings at the new site, the 4-H clubs raised money through various methods such as making moccasins and selling household "guidebooks."

At 89, Frock has more than 60 years of memories of being in 4-H, first as a member, then as a leader and currently as a judge.

She no longer judges at the Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery county fairs, but the Westminster resident remains active with her beloved Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair, which opens this week.

"I had to cut some of those out because it is pretty far for me to drive," Frock chuckles, talking about the other fairs. "I can't do as much as I used to do. I can't stand on my feet so long."

As a 4-H leader, Frock helped start the Westminster 4-H Club and the 4-H Horticulture Club. She took an active role in the running of the 4-H snowball stand.

"I would line up all the people to work the three, four-hour shifts," Frock said. "Leaders, 4-H'ers, parents, friends, anybody I could get. I used to be in that snowball stand a lot."

Every year, the fair has grown, according to Frock, with more exhibits, more youth and more animals.

"It takes an awful lot of people to run that fair," Frock said. "It takes 80 to 100 people just to run the snowball stand. There's an ice cream stand, a soft drink, sandwich, iced tea stand, a restaurant that serves three meals a day.

"Volunteers volunteer more than one time."

Andy Cashman, livestock superintendent for the fair, says Frock's commitment to 4-H is admirable.

"This day and age it is tougher and tougher to get people to volunteer," Cashman said. "The kids think it is pretty neat that she's been involved. It is pretty important to her."

Both of Frock's children were in 4-H, and now her grandchildren are, too.

"It is a very educational program," Frock said of 4-H. "There are all kinds of things you can do in 4-H."

While Frock participated in projects such as sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlework, canning and jelly making, she has judged crafts, horticulture and food projects.

It isn't always easy being a judge, especially when choosing the grand champion of a class.

"At the fair, you're displaying all of what you've done over the year and being judged on it," Frock said. "The judge tells them the good ... and the things they could improve on."

"Sometimes picking out the (champion) is hard because a couple can be very close," Frock said. "A 4-H leader knows what to look for. What they (4-H'ers) are supposed to be doing is learning by doing, and making the best better."

Frock plans to continue being active with 4-H and can't wait until this year's fair gets fully under way tomorrow.

"She gets her own parking spot at the top," Cashman said. "Anybody who does all she does deserves it. She's a wonderful lady who puts a lot of effort into the program."

Parking spot or not, Frock will be attending this year's fair, adding to her collection of memories.

"I don't know whether there is a favorite part," Frock said, of her years in 4-H. "I like it all."

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Related – Update:

Kathryn A. Myers Frock, 94, of #Westminster, died April 26, 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Kathryn A. Myers Frock, 94, of Westminster, died April 26, 2012 at Emeritus at Westminster. http://www.prittsfuneralhome.com/vcalendar/event_view.php?event_id=245

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2012/04/kathryn-myers-frock-94-of-westminster.html

Labels: 4H, 4H Carroll Co 4H FFA Fair, Ag Carroll Co MD Ag Center, People Frock Kathryn, People obituaries

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