HAVING been involved with the Okehampton Show since his teens, this year's show president Michael Crocker will be a familiar face to many visiting the showground.

Michael, aged 61, has lived in Lydford his whole life, having taken on the family farm from his father more than 30 years ago. Having originally been a sheep farmer, he now farms cattle.

He lives with his wife Jenny, who he has been married to for 33 years. They have two daughters — Sarah and Nicola, who have both grown up and married.

Off the farm, Michael keeps himself busy with a range of outside interests. He is churchwarden at St Perock's Church in Lydford, and has also been a bellringer since the age of 14. He has rung bells at Lydford, Bridestowe and Sourton churches, and is the treasurer of the bellringers. He also prints the Lydford village magazine.

If that was not enough to keep busy he is also on the Nicholls Hall committee, the sports field committee, and is a former governor of Lydford School. Since Christmas, he has taken part in the befriending service run by Tavistock Area Support Services.

Michael first got involved in the Okehampton Show with the young farmers' club, taking part in competitions. In the past he has helped set up the sheep pens and hurdles, and for the last few years has been chief steward of the sheep section at the show.

Michael said: 'The Okehampton Show means an awful lot to the area. It is a good publicity event for agriculture. It does a great job of uniting the town and the countryside, and uniting for both business and pleasure. It is a great social event too, and a day out that the whole town can enjoy.

'For me and my family, we are very honoured that I have been selected as this year's Okehampton Show president. It is a great honour to be chosen, and not the sort of thing that comes along very often. That means that I am doing my best to do the best for the role and the show.'