The 2010 Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Dr. M.K. “Curly” Cook

Dr. Cook was nominated by Laura Perry Johnson, Robert Stewart, and Ronnie Silcox. Dr. Cook joins
a class of other influential recipients including the late Edgar Rhodes, Dr. Tom Rodgers, and the late Wayne Shackelford. In 2001, Georgia 4-H awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award. The
award was established to recognize an individual who had made a significant contribution to the
Georgia 4-H program in their lifetime.

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at the 2010 Georgia 4-H Gala

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After receiving his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Panhandle State University in Oklahoma, Curly Cook moved to Georgia in 1959 to manage a cattle farm in Barnesville. He then attended the University of Georgia and received both a M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Science with an emphasis in Ruminant Physiology. He joined the UGA Extension Service as an Assistant County Agent in Mitchell County , beginning what would become a 31 year career at UGA. Curly then moved to a district Livestock Specialist position in southwest Georgia and in 1981 was named as Head of the Extension Animal Science Department. Under his leadership, the Extension Animal Science educational and youth livestock  programs flourished.

 Youth Livestock Programs were a passion of Curly Cook. He was a product of the Junior Livestock Program himself and passed this passion along to his son Currey and daughter Kim who both exhibited livestock. Dr. Cook made the Youth Livestock Programs a priority, enabling the program to grow and flourish. Today it remains the largest junior program east of the Mississippi. Countless 4-H and FFA members attribute their start in agricultural careers and development of life skills to this program. A lasting testament to the commitment Curly had for Georgia 's livestock youth stands in Perry at the Georgia National Agricenter and Fairgrounds. The thousands of people who walk on these grounds annually may never be aware that even though the facility hosts a diverse array of events, it was built for the 4-H and FFA members of this state to honor and support their involvement in the Youth Livestock Programs. Curly Cook was the driving force behind the vision for a facility that could host all of the state junior livestock shows at the same time. After co-chairing the planning committee and many hours of hard work, this vision was realized in 1991 and the inaugural event was dedicated in his honor. In October 2009, the 20th Anniversary of the GA National Fair was celebrated and in February 2010 4-H and FFA members from across the state will gather for the 20th Georgia Junior National Livestock Show. This exciting event fulfills the dream Curly and others shared and each year allows over 1,000 young people to exhibit their livestock in one of the best facilities in the nation. It is estimated that over 30,000 youth have exhibited over 60,000 head of livestock in Georgia 's Junior Livestock Program.

In 1989, Curly became the Associate Director for Agricultural Programs in the College of Agriculture at UGA and he served here until his retirement in 1992. Other professional service roles included director, vice president and president of the Georgia County Agricultural Agents Association. After he retired, Curly continued to serve and support the agricultural industry of this state as President of the Georgia Cattleman's Association and the UGA Ag Alumni Association. Dr. Cook's honors include his induction into the Panhandle State Alumni Hall of Fame, the Georgia Cattleman's Hall of Fame, the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame, and recipient of the National Ag Alumni Volunteer Award.

In his nomination application it was said that, “he was such a powerful force and such an advocate for youth. He did not hope and dream; he planned and did. Over the years, several generations of kids saw the tall, rambling man in the cowboy hat at livestock shows and events and even if they did not know his name or even exactly what he did – they felt his passion and they respected him and knew he cared about them. Why? Because he told them so, but even more because his actions spoke louder than his words. He showed up and he cared!”

Georgia 4-H is blessed to have Curly Cook as an advocate for the youth in this state. His work has impacted the program and has developed thousands of young people into the successful, contributing adults they are today. Additionally, Curly and his family made another commitment to the program through the contribution to the Georgia 4-H Foundation to endow two food projects in memory of his late wife, Sandra Cook.