Farmer, Michael Fooks,  was announced as the new President of the Melplash Agricultural Society at the recent Annual General Meeting.  Michael has been involved with the Society for more than 60 years!

Michael commented, “I feel very honoured and privileged to be elected as the President of the Melplash Agricultural Society in 2023. 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 old 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.”

Michael with his three brothers, David, Jeffrey and Francis farm at Manor Farm in North Poorton, the farm that 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, dairy herd of 150 Holsteins, a flock of 250 ewes, Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset and 80-90 acres of arable.  Two of Michael’s nephews have now joined them on the farm, which has meant that Michael only now milks the cows once a week or when required!

Michael is married to Pam, and they have two daughters, Helen and Julia.  All of them are actively involved with the Society.   Helen helps with the Dairy section which her husband Kevin Wallbridge is the Chairman, Julia helps organise and run the Handicraft section, and Pam as well as supporting her family does the ploughman lunches for competitors at the Annual Hedgelaying and Ploughing Match!   Julia’s daughter Abigail (16 years old) has been helping her grandfather, Michael, steward the Jacob Sheep Classes on Show Day for a number of years, and this year with him being President will be managing it with her younger brother Edward.

Thanks were given to retiring show President, Nigel Jones and retiring chairman, James Vickery who were in their roles longer than anticipated due to the Covid pandemic.  Both will remain on the board of directors and are trustees of our charity.  Philip Hardwill has now taken on the role of Chairman and Simon Wakely was appointed Vice Chairman.  Mr Richard Bugler will continue as our Treasurer.