STALWART of Ryedale Show and the rural scene in the district for many years, Freda Cockerill, has been elected its president, joining only a handful of women to hold the honour.

The show, which marks its 150th anniversary next year, has won national awards and is rated as one of the top five agricultural one-day events in the country.

Mrs Cockerill has been involved in farming all her life and today farms, with her husband, David and son Graham and his wife, Helen, about 400 acres on a mixed farm with cereals, oilseed rape and suckler cows, rearing their offspring to beef.

“I have done all aspects of work on the farm over the years from milking cows to shepherding sheep,” she said.

Mrs Cockerill was in charge of the sheep section of Ryedale Show alongside Chris Leckenby for many years, but now Rob Myers has taken the role over with his wife, Julie.

However, Mrs Cockerill is still responsible for the issuing of licences on show day for sheep, goats and pigs.

She has spent nearly 50 years farming in the district and lives with her family at Fox and Rabbit Farm, Lockton, next to the pub of the same name on the Pickering to Whitby Road, from where they farm about 400 acres in the Lockton and Levisham area.

She and her husband, David, and two sons specialise in arable farming and rearing suckler calves.

As well as Ryedale Show, Mrs Cockerill is also involved with others at Thornton-le-Dale and Egton where she is responsible for bio-security of livestock, and at Saltersgate Hunt Farmers Show, of which she is chairman.

“I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to be this year’s president because Ryedale is such a wonderful show,” she said.

“The numbers and quality of the livestock is second to none.

“The horse classes are very well-supported attracting competitors from long distances.

“It’s a great honour being Ryedale Show president because it is so successful, with some of the finest livestock in the country, both in terms of numbers and quality.

“I like all aspects of farming and the shows in this area are undoubtedly very successful, going from strength to strength.”

This year’s show, held as usual at Welburn Park, will be on Tuesday, July 28.