Oskaloosa Dad Makes National ‘Super Dad’ Quarterfinals, and He’s Looking for Your Vote!

Ben Wilker in the Oskaloosa News studio.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Ben Wilker has always dreamed of being a dad. Now, this Oskaloosa father has a shot at making it official, with a $25,000 prize, a national TV appearance, and the title of Super Dad.

But Wilker says he may have already gotten the most important vote in the whole competition.

His seven-year-old son recently told him he would vote for his dad because he was already a super dad in his eyes.

For Wilker, that was a great reminder of what the competition is really about.

Wilker recently stopped by the Oskaloosa News studio to share his unexpected journey into the national Super Dad competition, how he made it to the quarterfinals, and why he hopes the community will help him move forward.

It all started with a Facebook ad

Like many of us, Wilker was scrolling through social media in his free time when an ad caught his eye.

The ad showed actor and comedian Adam Devine promoting a contest where one dad could win $25,000 and appear in a national TV commercial.

At first, Wilker was skeptical. He wondered if the ad was real or just another internet scam.

After looking into the contest and learning about the group behind it, he decided to give it a shot.

The application asked him to share what fatherhood means to him, what he hopes to achieve as a parent, and how he would use the prize money. He also sent in photos of himself with his family.

What began as a simple online application has now become a nationwide contest, with Wilker making it through several rounds of voting to reach the quarterfinals.

Wilker says he’s now among the top 1 percent of dads who entered the contest.

Being a Dad Was Always the Dream

While many kids dream of becoming firefighters, police officers, or pro athletes, Wilker had a different goal as a child.

He wanted to be a father.

Today, Wilker and his wife are raising their kids in Oskaloosa. The family moved back after spending some time away while he worked in Des Moines.

Wilker grew up in Iowa and has family roots in Oskaloosa on his mother’s side.

In his interview, he said his biggest responsibility as a dad is to set a good example for his kids.

He wants them to have chances to succeed, find happiness, and become the best versions of themselves.

That belief is also part of why he joined the contest.

Wilker hopes his kids will see that sometimes you have to take a chance, try something new, and be willing to put yourself out there to reach a goal.

A $25,000 Prize and a National Television Appearance

The Super Dad competition is a nationwide online contest run by Colossal Management for the nonprofit Action Initiative Team.

The winner will get $25,000 and appear in a national TV commercial, with airtime provided by Ace Hardware.

Adam Devine, known for Pitch Perfect and Workaholics, is the contest’s celebrity ambassador.

The contest also raises money for Children’s Miracle Network, which supports children’s hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

Money from paid votes goes to the charity after covering competition expenses and fees.

Wilker thinks that connection is one of the most important parts of the contest.

He explained that many families struggle with medical bills and worry about getting health care for their kids.

While winning the money and being on TV would be exciting, he says helping children and families is an even bigger reason to take part.

Oskaloosa Can Help Send Ben to the Semifinals

Wilker has already gotten support from friends, family, and people in the community who have helped him move forward in the contest.

Now, he needs that support to keep going.

The quarterfinal round goes through Thursday, October 29, with voting ending at 9 p.m. Iowa time.

Only the top contestant in each quarterfinal group will move on to the semifinals.

The good news for anyone who wants to support Wilker is that voting is free.

You can cast one free vote every 24 hours. A Facebook account is needed to verify voters.

The contest also lets people buy extra votes through donations, but you don’t have to donate to support Wilker. His official competition page is located at: https://yoursuperdad.org/ben-wilker-A0eW

Wilker is also posting updates about the contest and his adventures as a dad on his personal Facebook page.

Already a Winner at Home

No matter what happens next, Wilker has already gained something from this experience. Friends, family, and neighbors support him, and he has had an opportunity to show his children the importance of taking chances and working toward a goal.

And then there was the moment when his youngest son told him he was already a super dad.

For a dad who dreamed of raising kids long before he had a family, that might mean more than any national title.

Still, $25,000 and a TV commercial wouldn’t be a bad bonus.

And with a little help from Oskaloosa, Ben Wilker just might get the chance to call himself Super Dad.