Farm Bureau Helps With
Farm Bureau members are not shy to step up and take action in their communities. That’s what happened when Extreme Makeover came to Lawton. By Dustin Mielke Farm Bureau members are not shy to step up and take action in their Westbrook family and their situation through the Lawton media. communities. That is exactly what Oklahoma Farm Bureau and “As soon as we heard about it, we wanted to get involved in some Comanche County Farm Bureau did in February when ABC’s Extreme way,” Coody said. Makeover: Home Edition television program came to Lawton. After making phone calls to people working on the project, Coody The focus of the makeover was the Westbrook family. The father, eventually got in touch with Brenda Spencer-Ragland, who conducted a Gene Westbrook, was paralyzed from the waist down during a mortar petition drive to bring Extreme Makeover to Lawton. attack in Iraq in 2004. While the Westbrooks’ insurance needs had already been met, Coody Two years later, the Westbrook family was involved in an automobile contacted OFB to seek assistance in making a contribution. Executive accident that left their son, James Westbrook, paralyzed from the waist Director Matt Wilson and the board of directors liked the idea and down. Their daughter, Katy Westbrook, lost a kidney because of the donated $1,500 to the Adopt-A-Soldier Now organization. collision. Don Hankins, Comanche County Farm Bureau president, said Coody That’s when the Adopt-A-Soldier Now organization came to help. approached him about helping the Westbrook family. When Oklahoma The organization is dedicated to improving the lives of overseas Farm Bureau decided to make a donation, Hankins said Comanche troops when they return to the United States. One of their three County wanted to add its support to the cause. missions is the wounded soldier program, which aims to enhance the “This is a military town,” Hankins said. “Lawton and the community lives of soldiers wounded in combat when they return home. around here support our military people. We wanted to get in line and Janet Brady, the organization’s founder and president, remembers march in with them and support them.” how Vietnam War troops were treated when they returned home. Brady Comanche County Farm Bureau made a donation of $500, bringing said people’s response toward the soldiers motivated her to find a way to the total contribution to $2000. make troops feel welcome when they return from overseas service. Coody, Hankins and other representatives from Comanche County “I was brought up during the Vietnam era, where the soldiers were Farm Bureau presented the checks to Brady and Adopt-A-Solder Now spat upon when they returned home from war,” Brady said. “I think Vice President Jimmy Langkop in Lawton. that’s a disgraceful part of American history, and our “I’m incredibly grateful for what you all have Comanche County Farm Bureau goal is to make sure that never happens again. We tell done,” Brady said at the check presentation. “This President Don Hankins, left, holds a people that regardless of their political affiliations they will enable us to help other soldiers.” check presented to the Adopt-Aneed separate the soldiers from the politics.” Brady said her organization has their next family Soldier Now program in conjunction with ABC’s Home Makeover project Brady said the troops’ response to her organization’s selected for their wounded soldier program. in Lawton. Also pictured, from left, efforts has been one of “overwhelming gratitude.” 009622990 are county FBW Chairman Georgia Brady worked with ABC to coordinate the home Coody gave credit to Oklahoma Farm Bureau for Doye, county board Secretary makeover for the Westbrook family. After a Lawton-area its willingness to lend a helping hand. Damon Doye, county FBW Vice Chairman Rhonda Hankins, county resident contacted ABC, Adopt“This is a major effort from FB Agent Jeff Coody, Janet Brady, A-Soldier Now workers Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Adopt-A-Solder Now president, and conducted interviews and we’re grateful that they’ve Jimmy Langkop, Adopt-A-Solider assisted ABC with the prelimiallowed us to be a part of it,” Now vice president. nary work required for the show. Coody said. ABC took on the project, and Hankins echoed the sentithe family’s old house was ment that was felt throughout demolished and a new house the makeover process. was built and furnished in less “There’s nothing wrong with than a week. doing the right thing and Jeff Coody, Comanche helping people,” Hankins said. County Farm Bureau Insurance “If someone needs help, we all agent, said he heard about the band together.”