What is Fancy Farm? Why the annual Kentucky political spectacle is more than just a picnic

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — The first Saturday in August is known for the signature western Kentucky tradition of the Fancy Farm Picnic. While popular in political circles, it’s much more than just fiery speeches.

“You know, we’ve been doing it now for 145 years. So, it kind of comes together like clockwork,” Fancy Farm political chairman Steven Elder told FOX 56 News.

For those who have never made the 4-and-a-half-hour trek from central Kentucky to the cozy community of Fancy Farm, the annual summer spectacle may be something they’ve heard a lot about but may not know the full story.

“You have a lot of families there. It’s a homecoming for Fancy Farm. You know, buy a raffle ticket, play a game of bingo, eat you a barbecue sandwich. Drink you a Sundrop,” Elder said.

The weekend picnic is much more than just a couple of hours of crazed political speeches; it’s a local church fundraiser. The festivities actually begin that Friday night with a fish fry, fun run, and raffle. Then Saturday, ahead of the big event, the smell of barbecue fills the air.

“We certainly always try to break even,” Elder said. “Generally, we’ll net several hundred thousand dollars on the picnic. It was in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest one-day picnic in the world. So, we sell approximately 20,000 pounds of pork. We raffle off a truck that generates probably $100,000 in raffle tickets.” Not to mention about two dozen big-time bingo prizes throughout the day.

The political speaking was largely started by soon-to-be-governor Happy Chandler in the 1930s and the tradition has carried on since, even bringing VP and presidential candidates, like Al Gore and George Wallace, to experience the heat and heckling of the Fancy Farm crowd.

As cutthroat as politics can seem today, Elder recalled many more moments where two sides found some tongue-in-cheek unity. He shared a memory from one year when Gov. Steve Beshear took a selfie with Sen. Mitch McConnell on stage.

McConnell was up for re-election that year, and the picture was to “remember” McConnell’s not-so-final Fancy Farm. When McConnell ultimately won that race, he returned the following year to get the last laugh with a signed picture of the selfie to give to Beshear, whose term was ending that year.

“Steve Beshear and Senator McConnell, you know, got up there in front of the podium, were laughing, had that picture in their hand, put their arms around each other, and just had the best time. Where in the world, where in the world would that happen, other than Fancy Farm, Kentucky,” Elder said.