Fancy Farm 2007:
Pork, Pie and Politics
Every year since the early 1880s, St. Jerome Catholic Church in the small town of Fancy Farm, near Mayfield in Graves County, has hosted an annual community picnic. It was a local affair at first, where people gathered to eat Western Kentucky barbecue and enjoy some regional entertainment. But at some point, political candidates began to see the Fancy Farm Picnic as a good chance to meet, greet, and stump for votes. Soon a platform for speaking was added, and by the middle of the 20th century, Fancy Farm had become the unofficial kickoff event for the fall campaigns.
These days at Fancy Farm, picnic volunteers serve up tons of barbecue (pork and the regional favorite, mutton) while crowds gather at the speakers’ platform to cheer—or jeer—their chosen candidates. In the gubernatorial election year of 2007, KET’s cameras were at the picnic site all weekend to bring you this uniquely American form of political theater both on the air and online:
- In Fancy Farm 2007: Pork, Pie and Politics, Bill Goodman and Renee Shaw introduce excerpts from the speeches and give a little of the “flavor” that makes Fancy Farm unique. Watch Online
- Al Smith hosted Comment on Kentucky live from Fancy Farm on August 3, previewing the fall election with guests John David Dyche, Al Cross, Mark Hebert, and Bill Bartleman. Watch Online
Webcast Video
On Saturday afternoon, August 4, KET presented a live webcast of the political speeches. You can watch it as it happened (approx. 2 hours 25 minutes), or choose a segment below. The speakers are listed in the order in which they spoke.
 |
 Welcome |
 Legislators |
 McConnell |
 Fletcher |
 Beshear |
- Welcome: introduction by picnic chairman Mark Wilson; invocation by Fr. David Willett and Bishop John J. McRaith; “My Old Kentucky Home” sung by Kathy Copeland; “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by 5th grader Elise Ballard; and remarks by Al Smith, host of KET’s Comment on Kentucky [27:51]
- Legislators: remarks by Fancy Farm’s representatives in the General Assembly: Sen. Ken Winters (R-Murray) and Rep. Fred Nesler (D-Mayfield) [7:18]
- U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) [8:21]
- Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) [11:31]
- former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear, Democratic candidate for governor [11:33]
|
 Rudolph |
 Mongiardo |
 Hendrickson |
 Grayson |
 Luallen |
- Robbie Rudolph, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor [6:43]
- Ky. Sen. Daniel Mongiardo, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor [5:30]
- S. Bruce Hendrickson, Democratic candidate for secretary of state [4:57]
- incumbent Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) [4:57]
- incumbent State Auditor Crit Luallen (D) [4:43]
|
 Greenwell |
 Stumbo |
 Lee |
 Conway |
 Smith |
- Linda Greenwell, Republican candidate for state auditor [5:05]
- Ky. Attorney General Greg Stumbo (not running for re-election) [3:44]
- Rep. Stan Lee, Republican candidate for attorney general [5:15]
- Jack Conway, Democratic candidate for attorney general [4:25]
- Adam Smith, speaking for David L. Williams, Democratic candidate for commissioner of agriculture [2:11]
|
 Farmer |
 Hollenbach |
 Wheeler |
|
|
- Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer (R) [2:37]
- Todd Hollenbach, Democratic candidate for treasurer [3:58]
- Melinda Wheeler, Republican candidate for treasurer [2:36]
- Complete Video
For more information on the picnic, see the Fancy Farm web site.