The Bishop of Exeter has taken part in a special service to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth, in Hemyock, of the Young Farmers’ Club movement.

Hemyock Calf Club was founded in 1921 and evolved into the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, now one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK with 19,000 members aged ten to 28.

The service, postponed from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place in a packed St Mary’s Church in Hemyock and featured members of the local club and live calves.

Michael Vaysey, chairman of the Young Farmers Club in the Culm Valley, said it meant a lot to the club that the church had arranged a celebration service.

He said: "The Young Farmers Federation means a lot to me as I have been in the Young Farmers since the age of 14. I have done a lot of competitions now, but before Young Farmers I never used to be able to speak to anyone. I was very shy when I was in school.

"Now I am the chairman of the Culm Valley Club. I am nearly coming to the end of my time as a Young Farmer, so I am trying to get the younger generation to come up and see what I have done so they can get a better future for themselves."

Members of the village club made 19 giant calf lanterns, some of which were on display in the church. They were the centrepiece of the village’s annual December light parade, held in honour of the Calf Club and Young Farmers centenary.

The Rector, Revd Becky Totterdell, said: "The Calf Club, formed in 1921, was a very creative way to develop the interest and skills of local young people in farming. It was just after the First World War when food was still scarce and the need for new enterprise was great.

"The Calf Club’s focus on the four H’s of ’Head, Heart, Hands and Health’ was a winner and resulted in the Young Farmers’ Club becoming an international movement. This area of the Blackdown Hills is an immensely creative area generally, and it is great to see music, craft work and film production by members of the village community all playing a part in this celebration."

Georgie Pengelly, the Culm Valley Young Farmers press secretary, said: "The Culm Valley Young Farmers are very proud of the heritage that sparked what is now an international organisation."

The Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Robert Atwell, is chairman of the Church of England’s Rural Interest Group and speaks on rural issues in the House of Lords.

He said: "I’m delighted to be at this centenary where we celebrate a new generation of farmers. Devon has some of the best farmland in England and it’s great to see the resilience and creativity of the farming community.

"It is extraordinary that out of this Mid Devon village, so much has flowed. What they have been doing here for decades now is encouraging young people to get involved in good animal husbandry, in the care of livestock and to really uphold food production."

Bishop Robert said churches can help support their local community by getting to know the farmers in their area and talking with them to understand the challenges they face.

Those included, he said: "The challenges that come with leaving the European Union and the challenges in trying to reduce our carbon footprint.

"We are asking our young farmers not simply to be producing food, we are asking them also to be carers of our environment too and these are big asks."