130th Fancy Farm Picnic This Weekend

A small Catholic parish near the Mississippi River will be the epicenter of Kentucky politics Saturday.  It’s the 130th Fancy Farm Picnic.  It began as a small, annual gathering to celebrate the fall harvest.  Pretty soon politicians started showing up, giving stump speeches.  Today, the Fancy Farm Picnic in rural Graves County annually draws 10-to-20-thousand people.  Bill Bartleman of the Paducah Sun has been covering the picnic for more than 30 years. “It’s a real spectator sport.  And it attracts a lot of people who don’t normally go to political events.  And it’s not only just for the political speaking.  It’s famous for the barbeque and other things that go on down there, too.”All eyes this year will be on the U.S. Senate candidates.  Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway and Republican physician Rand Paul are seeking the seat currently held by Republican Sen. Jim Bunning, who’s retiring.(Photo courtesy of St. Jerome Church)