What is Fancy Farm? What to know about Kentucky's annual political picnic

Kentucky's anticipated day of politics and food is just around the corner.

On Saturday, federal and state elected officials and candidates will be among the crowd to gather at a church picnic to informally kickoff Kentucky's general election cycle.

The event is Fancy Farm, and it's arriving in less than a week. Here's what to know about the annual gathering:

What is Fancy Farm?

Fancy Farm is a town in west Kentucky and home to the annual church fundraising picnic held by St. Jerome's Catholic Church. This year's picnic will be the 144th.

There's more to the picnic than just massive amounts of barbecue, though. During the picnic, elected officials and candidates dominate the event for a few hours with short speeches that are often laced with barbs for competitors and their party .

The political speeches at the event started around 1931, when A.B. "Happy" Chandler ran for lieutenant governor and popularized the event statewide.

The picnic offers signature barbecue offerings, including pork and mutton.

Who is speaking at Fancy Farm 2024?

This year's emcee is Father Jim Sichko, a priest from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington. Introductory remarks will be made by Fancy Farm Political Chairman Steven Elder, among other speakers. Kentucky Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are still labeled as pending.

Discussions are still happening with surrogates for presidential campaigns for event.

Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman will not be speaking this year. There was no reason given why Beshear won't be attending, while Coleman said in a statement to The Courier Journal that she will be missing out because she will be attending the Horses and Hope event with cancer survivors.

The known speaker lineup for political speeches is:

• Republican State Sen. Jason Howell
• Republican State Rep. Richard Heath
• Republican State Rep. Suzanne Miles
• Democratic State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson
• Republican State Rep.-Elect Kim Holloway
• Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer
• Democratic candidate Erin Marshall, Congress, 1st District
• Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman
• Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams
• Republican Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell
• Republican Kentucky State Treasurer Mark Metcalf
• Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Payne Jones
• Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Candidate Jason Shea Fleming
• Libertarian Presidential Candidate Chase Oliver

When is Fancy Farm?

Fancy Farm is held on the first Saturday of August, so this year's date will be Aug. 3.  The political speaking portion is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Central/3 p.m. Eastern.

Where is Fancy Farm?

Fancy Farm takes place at St. Jerome Catholic Church, which is located at 20 Ky. Route 339 North in Fancy Farm, which is in Graves County.

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What is Fancy Farm? What to know about Kentucky's annual political picnic