Lake County Fair names new president

The Lake County Fair Association board of directors this week elected Mike Richards president.

Richards, who has served on the fair board since 2005, assumes the post held by David DeYoung, who resigned last week days after an annual membership meeting in which fair finances and mounting debt were criticized.

“My number one priority, in the coming weeks, is to work toward obtaining the USDA loan,” Richards said in a statement. “This loan is crucial to us as an organization.”

He also said he would establish finance, marketing and building committees as requested by the membership at the annual meeting.

Richards and his family operate a grain farm operation and excavating business near Zion. Also elected were, Jerry Pretzman, vice president; Pete Tekampe, treasurer; Kelli Kepler-Yarc; secretary; and, Frank Brock, executive director.