By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Fancy Farm, Ky.—As expected, today’s Fancy Farm Picnic was fiery and not just from the heat outdoors.
The 139th St. Jerome Fancy Farm picnic Saturday was everything a political junkie could hope for, with fervent rhetoric, jeers and cheers, good-natured jibes and some jibes that were not so good-natured.
Thousands flocked to the picnic to see Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the face-off between Republican Governor Matt Bevin and his opponent, Democrat Attorney General Andy Beshear. National media, including Rolling Stone magazine, covered the event.
Many in attendance came in costume, with McConnell being a target for much of the jeers and catcalls. Several people showed up in Russian fur caps with signs and t-shirts saying, “Ditch Mitch” and “Moscow Mitch”.
Beshear showed up early and walked through the crowd amid cheers of “Andy, Andy”, while Bevin and McConnell both elected for quick arrivals from the back of the stage.
The St. Jerome Fancy Farm picnic is a touchstone of Kentucky politics, but is also a fund-raiser for the church, with 900 volunteers working on the event, which features live music, mutton and pork BBQ, a huge home-cooked meal served all day and continual bingo and games.
Emcee this year was Bill Goodman, Kentucky Humanities Director and former KET commentator.
In his speech, McConnell said the “Washington liberals have targeted me” and that Kentucky is leading in the right way again under Governor Bevin, with low unemployment. He said he is joining with President Trump in ‘making America great again’ and called on Kentucky voters to “kill the Socialist agenda’ and re-elect Bevin.
Governor Bevin told the crowd, “For all the jeer and tears, I love Kentucky and I love the United States of America.”
He applauded his administration’s record, noting, “We have the lowest unemployment in the history of Kentucky and we have more people working than in the history of Kentucky.”
The coming gubernatorial election, he said, involves choosing to go forward or backward. He told the crowd they need to decide “which side you’re on.”
Beshear noted that he is “the only candidate (for governor) with roots in West Kentucky. Well, I’m the only candidate with roots in Kentucky”, alluding to Bevin’s background (he was born in Colorado and raised in New Hampshire).
“We have a governor who never takes responsibility”, he said. “He’s reckless and erratic”, saying that Bevin has “slashed” public education and “has tried to cut people off health care.”
Beshear told the crowd he wanted to be the governor “for every single citizen” in Kentucky.
Gubernatorial Candidate Andy Beshear arrives on the grounds.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell enters the stage area.
Top photo: McConnell and Bevin were a target for many of the signs at this year’s Fancy Farm picnic.
Shannon McFarlin photos.
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