4W's - WALTON WONDER WOMEN WISHing Clue #2

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Image

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Photographs

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“Our WISH for Home and Country” creation name

What a fun time the four of us had returning to our youth constructing our Lego creation! While we snapped pieces together creating a farmhouse, barn and shed we chatted about our lives and acknowledged how much our childhood home has influenced us throughout our lives. Getting to know each other and forming friendships is a bonus to these activities.
Our parents lead by example. Morals, values and lessons taught to us in our youth would make us better individuals and a value to our communities near and far. We all had parents that were involved: on the family farm; working off the farm; they were members and often held executive positions within the community service clubs, church, recreational teams and boards.
All of us are former 4-H members, leaders and we even have a retired home economist on our team. These were programs that rural kids just did to improve themselves. Parents drove us to the meetings and often helped lead the clubs. The 4-H motto “Learn to do by doing" was lived at home by parents and children!
Three members were Junior Farmers and still have friendships throughout the province from their teen years.
It was while the Institute members were sharing accomplishments throughout WI’s 125-year existence with our two non-members, which we realized that the WI motto “For Home and Country” summed up our personal lives. Now that our creative juices were flowing, we decided to create “Our WISH” for the judges. As you will know, Women's Institutes in Ontario have advocated for changes in a variety of areas that have contributed to improvements in society. Our Lego model is a mini scavenger hunt with symbols that represent several changes resulting from the voices and actions of Women's Institute members. Rural organizations are also included that have improved the quality of life at home and afar. How many examples can you find in the photograph?
We hope you enjoy our WISH for you.
Our examples of things that WI has helped to accomplish “For Home and Country”:
1. Cows - requiring the pasteurization of milk.
2. Chicken - having fowl graded for sale. In the early days of WI, courses were offered to educate farm women on raising chickens for eggs and meat.
3. Paved road - having centre lines painted on Provincial Highways.
- enacting legislation on dimming car lights when meeting.
- Requiring car owners to purchase liability insurance before getting license.
4. School bus – making law mandatory for traffic to stop when school bus is stopped (1962).
5. 4-H Member Lives Here sign – the WI has been supportive for the training of boys and girls both financially and by supplying leaders.
6. Farm scene – WI supports and promotes Farm Safety Courses.
7. WI 125th Barn Quilt indicates that a woman lives here who is seeking self-improvement and personal enrichment through her involvement in WI.

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