Brewster man recognized as Twins’ Father of the Year

• Award

submitted Photo Sadie and Tom Volk are pictured here with the Minnesota Twins Father of the Year award.

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BREWSTER — The recent celebration of Father’s Day was one for the books for Brewster’s Tom Volk when he was awarded the title Father of the Year.

Volk’s daughter, Sadie, penned an essay in hopes to win Minnesota Twins’ tickets. Doyle Zellar, a teacher at Southwest Star Concept School, assigned the essay “What My Father Means to Me” for a Successful Writing class.

“You know you love your parents but when you have to write about it and think logically, you have to think why,” Sadie said.

It was her quest to write a creative piece that revolved around the concept of a superhero.

“In every story there is a superhero, one that saves the day,” Sadie said about the introduction of her essay.

The essay continued about stages in her life when Tom was consistently there for her. She added there was a phase when she didn’t get along with Tom.

“A superhero can’t be super if people don’t want them to be,” she said.

One striking memory Sadie described in the essay involved a family vacation in Canada.

“I was at the age where I didn’t get along with my sisters, I was just the little kid,” said Sadie, the youngest among four daughters.

While the rest of the family ventured for a bike ride, Tom suggested to Sadie that they go fishing.

“It’s not like fishing is important to me,” she said. “It was just that we had been with the family and he wanted to spend time with me.”

Organized by the National Center for Fathering, the statewide competition received 7,324 essays.

The top five from each grade were selected, and fathers were then approached to continue competing.

“We just thought that if you won, you got Twins’ tickets,” Sadie explained.

Tom received a letter notifying him about the competition along with a questionnaire. Following the questionnaire, he was selected for a phone interview.

A pivotal question for him was when he was asked to name the most sacrificial act he had done for Sadie.

“I couldn’t name any. It’s just what I’m supposed to do, it’s not sacrifice,” he said.

Tom admits there are difficult times as a father, but he enjoys doing what he can for his children.

Faith plays a big part in the Volks’ lives. When asked what was the most he could do for his children, Volk’s answer was to pray for them.

“I try to be a model as a father the way God wants us to,” Tom said.

Another question that stood out in Tom’s mind was what his children would consider his most consistent trait.

“Being consistent in my opinions,” Tom answered with a laugh.

The Volks joined four other finalists June 18 at the Minnesota State Capitol.

With the whole family present, Tom was presented with a plaque and a certificate acknowledging him as Minnesota Twins Father of the Year.

“When they announced it, I looked at my dad and there was the biggest tears just welling up in his eyes,” Sadie said.

For Tom, it was a humbling experience. After the ceremony, he had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the Minnesota Twins’ game.

Tags: twins’ father of the year, news, brewster, man