Grab some pork and popcorn.
Kentucky’s annual Fancy Farm Picnic is back, with several high-profile Senate candidates ready to lob shots at their competitors before a rowdy crowd.
The event has become known for its fiery political speeches, laced with zingers. And while event organizers typically limit speakers to those holding state office or running in a general election, they’ve extended invitations to primary candidates running in 2026.
That includes Andy Barr, Daniel Cameron and Nate Morris, who’ve all accepted slots as candidates campaigning to take U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s seat.
Thousands of pounds of barbecue will also be served through the hot summer day. And The Courier Journal will be there to see it all.
Here’s are the highlights.
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11:30 a.m.: Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks at Republican breakfast
The Graves County Republican Breakfast drew multiple state and federal politicians, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, who was listed as pending on the most recent Fancy Farm speaker schedule.
McConnell, who announced in February that he would not seek reelection, received a standing ovation as he was welcomed to the stage.
All three high-profile GOP candidates seeking to take his seat — Barr, Cameron and Morris — are scheduled to speak at Fancy Farm later in the day.
In his morning speech, McConnell seemed to take a jab at Morris, who has the been vocally critical of the outgoing senator.
After saying one candidate wants to be different from him, McConnell asked: “I’m wondering how you’d want to be different from the longest-serving leader in U.S. history?”
Prominent Democrats join dinner, skip Fancy Farm Picnic
Democrats joined the 28th annual Mike Miller Memorial Bean Dinner on Aug. 1 in Marshall County ahead of 145th Fancy Farm Picnic.
The event, held at the Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center, featured prominent speakers including Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Colmon Elridge.
During her speech, Coleman touted how she and the Beshear administration broke “historic tourism records in the last three years” and have created new jobs for Kentuckians.
“We created 65,000 new jobs and $35 million worth of private sector investments,” Coleman said. “We secured raises for law enforcement, for state employees, for social workers, but ironically, the one group of people that the Republicans in the General Assembly don’t think deserve a raise is our educators.”
Coleman previously confirmed she would not participate in the political speaking portion of the picnic, saying she believes that time should be reserved for candidates on the ballot.
She touched on her absence during her speech, saying she will not be at the event “partly because there are so many obvious jokes, but not much worth laughing about at this moment.”
“… Although I do hear of some races, like in 2027, that might bring me back to the Fancy Farm stage,” Coleman said, potentially alluding to the upcoming gubernatorial election.
John “Drew” Williams, who announced he plans to run against Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer in 2026, will be the lone Democrat speaking at Fancy Farm.
When asked how it feels to be the only Democrat on stage, Williams told The Courier Journal, “I don’t mind it at all.”
“It’s become a hate fest in a lot of ways, the picnic,” Williams said. “We should treat it like a church picnic. Quips are fine. Jokes are fine. But we’re getting really hateful in the way we talk about each other.”
Williams added he feels “pretty confident” about his first time speaking at Fancy Farm and is “ready to be in front of (his) community.”
“Even if there are hecklers there, all they’re doing is getting me prepared to go up there and get heckled and yelled at in Congress,” Williams said.
Who’s speaking at Fancy Farm 2025?
The speaking order for the event, with allotted times, is as follows:
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Fancy Farm Political Chairman Steven Elder, welcome
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Bishop William Medley, invocation
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Campbellsville University President Joseph Hopkins, national anthem
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Emily and Austin Lamb, “My Old Kentucky Home”
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Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Ashli Watts, emcee, 5 minutes
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State Rep. Kim Holloway (R), 4 minutes
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State Sen. Jason Howell (R), 4 minutes
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U.S. Rep. James Comer (R), 6 minutes
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Congressional candidate John “Drew Williams (D), 6 minutes
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U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Cameron (R), 6 minutes
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U.S. Senate candidate Andy Barr (R), 6 minutes
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U.S. Senate candidate Nate Morris (R), 6 minutes
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Attorney General Russell Coleman (R), 5 minutes
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Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell (R), 5 minutes
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State Treasurer Mark Metcalf (R), 5 minutes
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is listed as pending on the most recent speaker list.
How to watch political speeches at Fancy Farm
Political speaking will begin at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT. KET will begin live coverage of the event at 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT. Host Renee Shaw and political commentators Trey Grayson and Bob Babbage will provide pre-event analysis.
Watch the coverage at ket.org.
Fancy Farm 2025 schedule
Barbecue by the pound goes on sale bright and early at 8 a.m. But the picnic’s official kickoff doesn’t start until a little later. Here’s the schedule for the day.
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10 a.m. CT: Official picnic start time
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10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Music by Harold Daniels
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11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Meals served in parish hall
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1:30 p.m.: Pioneer Award presentation at political stand
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2 p.m.: Political speaking
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4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Music by Louisville Orchestra
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7 – 10 p.m.: Music by Seeing Red band
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fancy Farm picnic 2025: Updates from Kentucky’s annual political event
