GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. — Fancy Farm is a Kentucky tradition unlike any other, and the St. Jerome Catholic Church is ready to bless the pork and get the festivities underway.
By Thursday afternoon, the hard part is over for Fancy Farm Picnic Chairman Andy Hayden.
“My job is really done by the time the picnic is here because these folks know what they are doing. They don’t need any explanation from me. They’ve been doing it longer than I’ve been doing it,” Hayden said.
The annual, one-of-a-kind tradition has reached its 143rd year. Hayden said the only thing left to do is start cooking and welcoming thousands of guests from across Kentucky.
“I think it’s going to be a huge crowd,” Hayden said. “Of course, we have so many candidates on each side that are going for all the state offices, so we expect a lot of support under this political pavilion behind me.”
Fancy Farm is a town of around 500 people, but Hayden expects to welcome as many as 15,000 visitors this weekend. The church fund raiser will have midway games, Bingo and—famously—features literal “tonnage” of BBQ pork and mutton.
On Friday, Fancy Farm families will hold a church service and then walk down to the long rows of BBQ pits and begin cooking with a blessing.
Then there’s the politics. For decades, the St. Jerome picnic has been a stump for Kentucky’s statewide officeholders and candidates bringing their campaign promises and electioneering to voters of Western Kentucky. Supporters for all parties will fill the pavilion Saturday afternoon for a robust schedule of speeches.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican contender and current Attorney General Daniel Cameron are both scheduled to speak. On Thursday, campaign supporters were setting up political yards signs stretching for miles.
“The politicians change every year as other people are seeking office, especially when it’s an election year,” Hayden said.
Above all, though, the most important element for Hayden is “tradition.”
“It’s kind of the nostalgia as a parent,” he said. “I have an 8-year-old and a 14-year-old, and seeing them play the same games as I played as a child is pretty cool.”
Born and raised in Graves County, the 41-year-old says this will be his 41st Fancy Farm.