MAKE a date with a great day out! Okehampton Show is back at Stoney Park on Thursday, August 8 and packed with a brilliant range of items to interest and entertain all the family.

Show chairman Bill Voaden says he is 'delighted' with the way the event has shaped up.

'I'm very upbeat about it. We have even ordered some decent weather for the day!' he says.

Bill says this year there are ample compensations for the lack of some regular features.

'We have no cattle, sheep, pigs or goats — but we have a breed marquee this year with stands featuring all the cattle, sheep, pig and goat breeds,' said Bill.

This year for the first time Okehampton Show features 'fur and feather' section.

'We thought it would be one way of bringing animals into the show. If this is successful I can see it becoming an annual event,' said Bill.

He said all the usual agricultural stands would be there with a particularly strong presence of agricultural machinery.

'I would say this is one of the biggest displays of tractors anywhere. Trade people like coming to the show. They say they get a lot of interest and sell quite a lot of equipment.'

This year, as well as the regular exhibitors there are a number of new companies coming along.

'We have a 40-metre trade stand which is the biggest trade stand we have ever had at the show. That will be featuring all machinery. We get trade from a wide catchment area at this show.'

A particularly mouth-watering part of this year's showground will be the 'Food Hall' — a splendidly arranged marquee which is geared to promoting local produce.

'We were determined to do something good this year. We had thought about showing cattle and sheep — but there were so many obstacles that we couldn't see a way forward there,' said Bill.

'We haven't got cattle or sheep, but there are plenty of other things to keep people interested.'

As usual there is a fascinating vintage vehicle section which provides an engaging array of transport and agricultural items that ooze sheer nostalgia.

Musical entertainment comes from the ever-popular Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band and the Ploughboy Jazz Band.

Bill is particularly pleased to have secured the presence of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery which are guaranteed to draw the crowds to the main show ring.

Equestrian enthusiasts are particularly well catered for at this year's show with more than 60 classes, including led and ridden hunters, arabs and children's ponies. There will also be heavy horses, donkeys driving classes and unaffiliated show jumping.

So, come along and enjoy a great day out. Even the weather is going to be good. Bill's booked it. And that's official.