Fancy Farm

Every year, St. Jerome Catholic Church draws thousands of visitors to its Fancy Farm Picnic fundraiser in Graves County, Kentucky, with its food, games, and fiery political speeches. WKMS's Will Darnall sends an audio postcard from the 145th edition.

This year’s Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky turned into a debate over Sen. Mitch McConnell’s legacy within his own party as GOP candidates for his office vie for President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

With only one Democrat speaking at the western Kentucky political event, the jabs and jeers of Fancy Farm turned inwards as the GOP candidates jockeyed for the opportunity to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

The Republican and Democratic presidential tickets are now set for November’s general election. But some Kentuckians heard from a third-party candidate for commander-in-chief during this year’s Fancy Farm Picnic, an event that is typically a battle of red vs. blue.

The 144th Fancy Farm Picnic takes place this weekend in far west Kentucky, bringing people from across the region together to eat barbecue and hear (and jeer) politicians. This year's political chair, Steven Elder, talks with WKMS Morning Edition host Daniel Hurt about this year's event, including who is slated to speak, issues the picnic faces as political realignment has led to partisanship concerns, and the event's long history.

With just under a month to go, a clearer picture of what the 144th edition of the Fancy Farm Picnic in far western Kentucky will look like is coming into focus.

With the immediate aftermath of destructive floods on one side of the state and the ongoing recovery from tornadoes on the other side, politicians and people throughout the Fancy Farm picnic emphasized the importance of Kentuckians coming together to help neighbors and strangers alike when disasters strike.

The barbecue and political jabs at the St. Jerome’s Parish picnic in Fancy Farm, Kentucky were plentiful, but the same can’t be said for the number of Democrats on the picnic’s signature political speaking roster.

Republican politicians and voters were the tone setters at the 2022 Fancy Farm Picnic both on and off-stage. The speaker’s pavilion in the small Graves County community served as the backdrop for four big-name candidates from the crowded field for the GOP 2023 gubernatorial primary to make their pitches.

A prominent member of Kentucky’s Republican legislative leadership will be the emcee of the 142nd Fancy Farm picnic in August, hosting the annual event in Graves County known for political speeches, rhetorical barbs, barbeque and bingo.