Fancy Farm

1st Congressional District candidate Heather Ryan will open a campaign heaquarters in Ryan's hometown of Paducah next week - the first the campaign will have in the district.

Ryan, a Democrat, is running a low-budget effort against incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, who has represented the 1st District since 1995.Heather Ryan (D-Paducah): Politicker photo

Her campaign nerve center will be located at 4509 Clarks River Road in Paducah. The office's grand opening is scheduled for August 21 at 5pm.

"Men, Women, Children and Check Books Welcome!" reads an invitation to the grand opening event dispatched by Ryan's campaign.

The 128th Fancy Farm picnic and political speaking was on Saturday afternoon: Politicker photo

Saturday marked the 128th incarnation of the Fancy Farm picnic, a western Kentucky tradition now known just as much for its political speeches as its barbeque.

Check out PolitickerKY.com's coverage from the event, rounded-up with the links below:

• McConnell and Lunsford are at center of Fancy Farm festivities
  
• McConnell says Stevens' legal troubles won't harm GOP
• Video: Crowd reaction as McConnell is introduced
• Video: Hecklers in traditional Arab garb trail Lunsford at Fancy Farm
• Fancy Farm round-up: Gubernatorial politics and 1st District sparring
• PolitickerKY.com's Fancy Farm Foto gallery
• Republicans rally before Fancy Farm

Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) at Fancy Farm: Politicker photo

FANCY FARM -- The Fancy Farm picnic offers an array of activity for the politically-inclined, and bingo and barbeque for those who are not. Saturday's raucous political speaking provided plenty of political fodder for the interested, including some 2011 politicking and a heated exchange from the 1st Congressional District race.

Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) delivered the first blows for the Democratic side during the Saturday speaking. He was the first speaker from either side, but was no rookie to the event. During his own run last year for Governor, he faced off with then-incumbent Ernie Fletcher at Fancy Farm. This year, he seemed well-accustomed to the rhetorical style required to face down the event's notorious heckling.

As the damp heat lingered in the air, Beshear referenced the "funeral home fans" used by Republicans in attendance. He said "they're going to need them" because "we will bury their candidates."

Beshear also took aim at U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-Southgate), in attendance for the first time since 2004, when he said was assaulted by supporters of then-opponent Dan Mongiardo. He pledged to never come back after that incident, but was nonetheless seated on the front row on Saturday.

"I called his office and offered to call out the National Guard to protect him down here," said Beshear.

Bunning seemed unmoved at the remark until U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) - seated next to him - playfully nudged his colleague.

A group of hecklers dressed in traditional Arab outfits - ostensibly "sheiks" with oil interests - trailed Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford, of Louisville, around the Fancy Farm grounds.

The group continually yelled "thanks, Bruce" - a motto of the day for Republicans attacking Lunsford for his position on domestic oil production. Lunsford opposes some expanded domestic oil exploration in areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Lunsford's opponent, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), supports drilling there, arguing that not producing oil available in the United States "exports production" to nations in the middle east.

The crowd at Fancy Farm reacts as U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) is introduced. Closest to the camera is the Democratic contingent while on the other side of the facility are McConnell's fellow Republicans.

Sens. McConnell (R-Louisville) and Bunning (R-Southgate) together on stage: Politicker photo

FANCY FARM -- "Let's try to remain at least halfway civil," said organizer Mark Wilson, kicking off the Fancy Farm picnic's political speaking.

The assertion was at least worst the effort, but in an election as polarizing as Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, it was inevitable that the notoriously active and vocal crowd would make itself heard during the Saturday afternoon event.

While Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington), Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard), and Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R-Richwood) all took the podium, the real anticipation was for the Senate race showdown between U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

Route 80, which lead's from the western Kentucky town of Mayfield to the tiny village of Fancy Farm, was lined with dozens of McConnell's campaign signs and others exclaiming "Ditch Mitch," paid for by the Kentucky Democratic Party.

On site at St. Jerome Parish for the picnic, the crowd at the forum was both ideologically and physically divided. T-shirts and buttons for the Senate race were sported by nearly all attendees, who arranged themselves - based on either tradition or instinct - by party, with Republicans on the right of the grounds in front of the stage and Democrats on the left. The two sides came together to form a seam in the middle of the crowd, where the most vocally partisan verbally sparring over the divide.

WHAS' Mark Hebert reports that the U.S. Senate will recess tonight, freeing up Kentucky's two Senators to attend the Fancy Farm picnic, as originally planned.

U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) initially may have had to miss the popular event if the Senate held a special Saturday session to consider energy legislation.

According to Hebert, such a concern has passed by the wayside, freeing up both to attend the famous picnic.

See PolitickerKY.com's Fancy Farm preview here.

Check back with PolitickerKY.com on Friday and Saturday for full coverage from Fancy Farm.

If you can't make it out west this weekend, check back with Politickerky.com throughout the weekend as we make the trip for the famous Fancy Farm political speaking on Saturday.

The site will be frequently updated with photos and stories from the event and the other festivities surrounding it. 

You can find our preview of the event here.