More Winners of the World Rural Women's Day Award

World Rural Women's Day

With the World Rural Women’s Day Award firmly established, the acknowledgement of women’s commitment and service to agriculture took on new forms and presented more scope to their efforts.When Ellen Willingham of Pender Island was named the 2007 honouree, it was more of a lifetime commitment that was acknowledged. Ellen and her husband were both Anglican ministers serving in Manitoba when their daughter was diagnosed with cancer. They chose to adopt a healthier lifestyle – one that included a move to a small farm on Pender Island where they purchased a run-down farm and over the years have re-built it to thriving operation.Ellen has become an activist for agriculture – striving for support for the protection of Agricultural Land; for the farmer’s right to slaughter animals on the Island; and works with all groups in her area to achieve these points. She initiated a school garden project, teaching children to love gardening and to understand where their food comes from.In 2008, the Award was presented to Janice Grinnell for her service to her community, through agricultural pursuits and others related to assisting local residents. Janice has been involved with the United Church, Christian Girls in Training, the Moorecroft Summer Camp program and the Canadian Cancer Society. Janice is never too busy to take on another challenge, and her supporters within all the groups she works with are quick to praise her work and commitment.In 2009, this Award was presented in two forms: The first winner was Candace Linde of Sooke. She was cited for her work with the school garden program at the local school, her dedication to the Fall Fair where one year she worked with the children to create a showcasing of worms composting soil, as well as other projects in the community. She created a sensational agricultural map highlighting local farms in the Sooke area, including a marvelous 10 Mile diet which she created herself.At the same time, a Rural Woman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Margaret Baird of Cobble Hill Women’s Institute. Margaret was nominated for her over fifty years of service to farming and the family farm; for her knowledge of agriculture, animal husbandry and gardening.  Her long association with the Cobble Hill Fall Fair is evidenced not only in the ribbons she has won, but also in the ribbons and trophies won by her children and grandchildren. Her dedication to the rural way of life, good old-fashioned home cooking and homemaking even in her 90^th year, led to this award. Bonnie Josephson of Metchosin was the 2010 winner. The nomination for Bonnie included this story: She was working with Ellie H. on the display for the Luxton Fall Fair when she asked if they needed some bales of hay. Ellie responded, “Isn't it very expensive?” “Well”, Bonnie replied, “ I helped an older local farmer get his hay crop in this summer, so he’d be willing to lend us some bales for the weekend.” This was the first Ellie had heard of Bonnie doing such physically demanding work to help someone else – but that’s Bonnie!Bonnie is the historian for the Metchosin Farmer’s Institute and the Happy Valley School – luckily, when the school burned in 2004, many of the documents were in Bonnie’s possession for restoration and consequently, saved.Bonnie has a number of seniors she checks on regularly, and helps them out as needed. She is dedicated to making the world a better place while preserving the local history.

Name Changed

Somewhere along the line, unnoticed by us until 2011, the name of this special day has been altered to International Day of Rural Women. Still the focus remains the same, and so the award continues.Judy Wallace of Victoria was the 2011 Award winner for the International Day of Rural Women. For her work with her husband on their farm, for her efforts with the 4-H Clubs over some 40 years, and for the time she spends working for and at the Saanich Fair, she certainly was a hands-down winner!Judy has worked at the Saanich Fair for 40 years, 30 of those years spent in the Grains and Cereal Section. She also offered her time in the Saanich Fair’s educational cooperative store where she teaches children the importance of how the farmer fills the grocery cart. The many children she interacts with here seldom want to leave the store to go see the rest of the Fair!Judy also works with the Old Farm Machinery section where the exhibits come from the Wallace Farm as well as from several neighbours  and she demonstrates grain grinding, water pumping and other old time practices.

Watch for Announcement

Watch this website for the announcement of the 2012 winner – it could be someone you know in the South Vancouver Island area!The above article was submitted by Ruth Fenner - A member of Somenos Women's Institute