Saturday, March 21 Greg and Kathy Evans wrote a negative article with concerns about the Lake County Fair. Their article was based off of the very first sentence written. Quote: “Once again the Lake County fair Board is attempting to remove agriculture, particularly livestock from being exhibited at the fair.”
This sentence is not factual and is not a true statement. At no time had the fair board members or management made plans to remove agriculture.
It is no secret Lakeport Hobbies and Lakeport Hobbies Raceway has been running a radio control racing program for the last three years at the fair and just recently proposed to keep their operations running during the fair Sep. 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Yet, the Evans”, without evidence of any kind, implemented Lakeport Hobbies in a conspiracy to remove livestock from the fair”s program.
The Evans” insinuated that the proposal to add radio control racing to the fair”s program was downright disgusting because in order to do so the goat program would need to be relocated. The Evans” written article reveals the hypocrisy and truth when comparing their opening statement: Once again the Lake County fair Board is Attempting to remove agriculture, particularly livestock from being exhibited at the fair) with their next statement: Quote (The latest proposal to “relocate the open goat show” in favor of Lakeport Hobbies is downright disgusting) Within the same article the Evans on one hand stated there was an attempt to remove livestock and on the other hand the Evans stated there was an attempt to re-locate livestock. The actual Lakeport Hobbies proposal provided to the fair board stated a desire to Re-locate the goats from one building to another fifty feet away. No mentioning of removing the goat program was in the proposal. (on record)
The Evans going back a decade with issues they had with the fair not supporting agriculture continued to implicate our businesses name Lakeport Hobbies throughout the entire article. The Evans wrote the Alexander Barn recently was used to house the open goat program but was originally built with a concrete floor and traditionally used to show swine many years ago. They continued with another derogatory statement directed at Lakeport Hobbies: Quote: (Thanks to Lakeport Hobbies dirt to the depth of about one foot has been added to entertain their use.) This is not a positive message and was totally unnecessary and shows ignorance since dirt is nearer to the elements goats live in and the swine that used the concrete floors were already gone for years.
When finishing the article the Evans made it perfectly clear on how they felt. Quote: (Instead of deciding weather or not to relocate the goats, maybe Lakeport Hobbies could return the use of the Alexander barn to it”s rightful use- to house the livestock! What a novel thought.)
The Evans made a huge deal out of this issue. They publicly and falsely accused the Fair BoardMembers, Management, and Lakeport Hobbies of trying to remove livestock from the fair program without even bothering to attend the fair board meeting over this very issue.
In conclusion: It is our opinion Lakeport Hobbies Raceway located in the Alexander Barn on the fairgrounds has been an asset to the Lake County community by running a weekly Radio Control Racing program 10 months out of the year for the last three years. It is a family fun environment that has given back to the community and has grown in popularity. A drug free, alcohol free zone safe for kids of all ages. We have every right to propose our wonderful program before the fair board members.
Both the Goat program and Lakeport Hobbies RC Racing will be attending the fair together this year in harmony.
Thank you to all the folks on the Fair Board Committee for providing Lakeport Hobbies a fantastic opportunity to share our event with your program this year.
We are looking forward to a public apology from the Evans family for implicating our good name. What a novel thought.
David Noland, AKA Hobby Dave, is the owner of Lakeport Hobbies.
