Prevaricator's dream: A lyin' contest in Lyon County

There's going to be some lyin' in Lyon at the First Occasional Lyon County Liar's Contest in Yerington this spring.

If you are the master of the cock-and-bull, you can win bragging rights and cash prizes in the contest, organized by Ray Johnson of Silver Springs, who is being aided and abetted by Tom Blomquist and John Chiappone both of Silver Springs, and Mike Cline of Stagecoach.

"This being Lyon County, it kind of fit," Johnson said.

The fib-a-thon will benefit the Silver Springs Spay and Neuter Project and will take place on, appropriately enough, April 1 at the Jeanne Dini Yerington Cultural Center.

Johnson said the effort is picking up where Old West fibbers in Austin, Lander County, left off. The Sazerac Lying Club held meetings there in a saloon on Main Street in the 1870s.

Stories at the club meetings were said to be so ludicrous that members didn't bother trying to make them even remotely probable.

Johnson has decided to bring the tradition back and, keeping with the spirit of things, holds the organizational meetings at Honest John's Used Auto Sales on Highway 95A in Silver Springs.

He said the judges for the event will be fairly notable people from Lyon County and Carson City, and they will be open to bribery.

"The thing to remember is this is a fundraiser," he said. "All bribes go to the spay and neuter center."

Johnson, who serves on the Lyon County Planning Commission, said he and his fellow organizers are having a great time putting the event together.

"This is probably the one thing I have been involved in that we're just having a ball with," he said. "Most projects you work on, it's work, but this one is fun."

Johnson said the goal is to raise $10,000 for the spay and neuter project.

"They expend a lot of money and it's hard to collect that kind of money from the little boxes sitting on the counters," he said.

The event will feature tall tales, prizes, food and drinks. A liar's kit, offering the right to lie straight-faced to everyone in attendance, a T-shirt and dinner may be purchased by those wanting to sponsor their favorite fibber. Contestant applications and ticket information will be forthcoming soon. Really.

A no-host bar will open at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner will be at 6 p.m. with the contest to follow, said Johnson

Tickets will be $45, which includes dinner and the right to be deceived. Liar's kits are $125 and may be purchased by the liar or sponsored by someone who appreciates a good yarn. And you don't have to be from Lyon to take part in the lyin'.

-- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If you go

WHAT: Liar's Committee meeting

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23

WHERE: Honest John's Used Auto Sales, Highway 95A, Silver Springs

CALL: (775) 577-2069