Farmer Michael Fooks was named the new president of the Melplash Agricultural Society at its recent annual general meeting.    

Mr Fooks, who has been involved with the society for more than 60 years, said he was "very honoured and privileged" to be elected president fr 2023.

He commented: "Coming from a farming family living locally in North Poorton, the society has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember.

"When I was at school, Melplash Show was the last day out before going back to school for the autumn term. When I left school at 15 years to work on the farm, I started helping as a volunteer with the show and competing in the annual ploughing match which I still do today. 

"The only years I haven't entered the ploughing match was in 1984 when I was society chairman and in 2020 when it was cancelled due to Covid.  

"Now as a farmer and father myself, it is the same for my children and their children too. All of them are actively involved with the society.

"The Melplash Show is a fantastic shop window for us local farmers and those that work on the land. I look forward to sharing our farming world with you." Said President, Michael Fooks.

Mr Fooks, with his three brothers, David, Jeffrey and Francis, farm at Manor Farm in North Poorton, which their grandfather took on in the 1920s. He also has two sisters, Hazel and Christabel, who both live locally. 

Trading as Fooks Brothers, they have a mixed farm on 800 acres, a dairy herd of 150 Holsteins, a flock of 250 ewes, Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset and 80-90 acres of arable land.

Two of Mr Fooks' nephews have now joined them on the farm, which has meant that Michael only now milks the cows once a week or when required. 

Mr Fooks is married to Pam and they have two daughters, Helen and Julia. The whole family is actively involved with the society.  

Helen helps with the dairy section, of which her husband Kevin Wallbridge is the chair, while Julia helps organise and run the gandicraft section, and Pam, as well as supporting her family, organises the ploughman lunches for competitors at the Annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing Match.   

Julia's daughter Abigail, 16, has been helping her grandfather steward the Jacob Sheep Classes on show day for a number of years, and this year with him being president will be managing it on her own. 

This year's Melplash Show takes place on Thursday, August 24. For more details, visit www.melplashshow.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Melplash Agricultural Society was set up by the local farming community in 1847 and is a registered charity – no 1130201.  Its main aim it to support and promote agriculture in West Dorset.

For more information on the Melplash Agricultural Show visit www.melplashshow.co.uk