One of the country’s most celebrated chefs has been named as president of this year’s Devon County Show. Holder of two Michelin stars, Michael Caines MBE will carry out official duties over the course of the three-day agricultural event, taking place at Westpoint Exeter from May 16-18.

He said: “Food and farming are of course at the very heart of the Devon County Show. The two are inextricably linked – as there can be no food future without farming.

“Farmers are the caretakers of the land and providers of our regional larder. Chefs are story tellers, as are our suppliers and they connect this unique tapestry of our woven landscape to the very communities that live, work and thrive within this wonderful county of Devon.

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“We must therefore protect and champion our indigenous and heritage breeds, celebrate our biodiversity, protect our ancient woodlands, orchards, wetlands and grasslands and as stewards of the countryside, embrace the need for the adoption of regenerative farming techniques – a need that becomes ever more urgent as we face a climate emergency.

“It’s by working together at events such as the Devon County Show, where communities with a truly diverse audience come together and are prime for getting the conversation started and forging partnerships, that will help create a better future for Devon, food and farming.”

Winners of the South West Chef of the Year 2023 competition, co-founded by Michael who also heads the judging panel, will alongside students from the Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College be performing cooking demonstrations at the show.

Michael added: “I am working closely with the show organisers to look at ways to highlight some of the issues farmers face and how they can overcome them. We have much to celebrate, and we choose to do so every year at the Devon County Show.”

To buy advance tickets visit www.devoncountyshow.co.uk.

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