of barbecue, bingo and who's on the ballot.

This Saturday marks the 146th year for Fancy Farm, as it's affectionately called.

Hosted in western Kentucky's Graves County.

It's a fundraiser for Saint Jerome Catholic Church and has become known for the political stump speeches and headlines that often serve as a kickoff to the general election season.

We'll show you some of the best one liners and punch lines as we recap.

Fancy Farm 146.

[MUSIC] Now on KET.

[MUSIC] Hello everyone.

I'm Laura Rogers, along with Emily Prince, who's down in West Kentucky covering what's been called the Super Bowl of Kentucky political events.

Fancy Farm hosts the largest one day picnic in the world.

It's a homecoming for the communities, natives and a bucket list check off for political junkies.

>> That's right Laura.

The event is on the first Saturday in August, but it hasn't always been that way.

Our Toby Gibbs explains how the event evolved and how the town got its charming name.

>> The story really begins in the 1820s, when settlers from Tennessee, Virginia and other parts of Kentucky first arrived in present day Graves County.

Many were Catholic, and they founded Saint Jerome's Catholic Church in 1836.

A series of family reunions turned into a regular series of picnics, and by 1880 the picnic had become a fundraiser for the church.

But it wasn't political at first.

>> My grandfather was the one who really popularized the political aspect of the Fancy Farm picnic, and that was in the 1930s.

>> 1931, specifically.

That's the year Abe Happy Chandler spoke while running for lieutenant governor.

He went on to win that race, and Fancy Farm became a place for old school political speechifying.

We think a fancy farm as being the first Saturday in August.

That wasn't always the case.

In fact, for most of its history it wasn't.

It was in July until 1956, when Kentucky's primary was in August.

When the primary moved to May.

Fancy farm was pushed back and became the unofficial kickoff to the fall campaign.

Some big national names have turned up at Fancy Farm.

Governor George Wallace spoke in 1975, one year before his fourth and final campaign for president and three years after he was paralyzed by a would be assassin's bullet.

>> He was up at the podium speaking, and that's when the photographers had the old style cameras that had the exposed flashbulbs on them.

Well, the photographer went to take a picture and then it popped like a gun, and Governor Wallace flinched.

He didn't say anything.

So he went on and proceeded with his speech.

The photographer reloaded the bulb, took another still shot of him, and it popped like a gun.

Governor Wallace flinched again.

He says in his Alabama accent, y'all have to excuse me, but I'm still just a little bit gun shy up here.

>> Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas was there in 1988 as a candidate for vice president, but he couldn't swing Kentucky to the Dukakis Bentsen ticket.

Senator Al Gore of Tennessee stopped at Fancy Farm.

Four years later, he was more successful.

Clinton and Gore carried Kentucky that November.

Senator and Vice President Alben Barkley spoke at Fancy Farm multiple times.

It was familiar turf for him.

The Jackson Purchase's favorite son was born in Graves County.

The food has also made the history books.

When picnic goers put away 15,000 pounds of mutton, pork and chicken at the 1982 picnic, it made the Guinness Book of World Records.

You might be asking, how did the community get that name?

The story is in the 1840s, when the area wanted its own post office.

A visiting postal inspector stayed at a farm that made quite an impression on him, so he named the area Fancy Farm for KET.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you, Toby, for that.

Governor Andy Beshear skipped Fancy Farm again this year for a third year in a row.

He hasn't been to the event since he was up for reelection in 2023.

But there were more Democrats on stage this year than last, with two candidates looking to succeed Beshear next year already making their pitches to voters.

Meanwhile, the Republican Party is still without an officially declared candidate for governor.

More on that in a moment.

>> The candidates aren't the only ones who spent most of the day behind a microphone.

The emcee, who was responsible for steering the event from one speaker to the next, logged plenty of time on stage as well.

Dave Baker, a longtime sports broadcaster at KY T TV in Lexington, served as this year's emcee.

I caught up with buzz just a few days before he took the stage to learn how he was preparing and how his sports career could serve him well in the political arena.

Dave, thank you so much for being here in the studio with us.

>> It's great being here.

>> I got to ask.

>> You.

>> How did you get this opportunity to be the emcee?

What was your reaction when they asked you?

>> Oh, gosh.

You know, I don't know.

Maybe they run out of people, I guess, I don't know.

I'm seriously.

46 years, something like that.

I got a, I got a call from, Frankfort Insider.

I'll say said, would you be able to do this?

And shortly thereafter I heard from Steven Elder.

And it's a, it's a great event.

I love Kentuckians come together and it's I'm telling you, I've been so fortunate to do a lot of different things and all the years I've been doing it.

But this is a real honor.

This is right up there.

>> I mean, you've been in the business for four decades, mostly in sports, but I've heard that you have interest in politics, too.

>> I was a political science major at Georgetown.

I was a history minor.

And then I got 12 hours for working in the Frankfort Bureau at KY T during the 82 legislative session.

And it was just it was a perfect fit for me, and I've always had an interest in it.

And and still do.

I think what Saint Jerome does down there is incredible.

I'm glad to be helping them out.

And I'm just I'm just really looking forward to it and hope I don't screw it up.

>> Are you preparing any zingers of your own?

You're going to have anything up your sleeve.

>> I don't know about zingers, but I'll tell you.

And all the stuff I've done, whether it's SEC football or basketball or stuff.

At KY T. I have never had as many people to offer suggestions as I had for this gig.

I mean, it's crazy.

I mean, people you would not think of, hey, this would be a good thing to do, right?

Hey, this is listen, if you want to come and try it out, you know, we'll get some people together and, and it's all very nice that they've, that they've said that and everything.

But I mean, when you're doing a game, I mean, you have all kinds of information ready and you can't use it unless the game and the situation presents itself.

So there are two things.

You got to have all that information prepared.

And then just like in a if I'm doing sidelines on a football game, you got to have that information organized so you can get to it in a hurry.

Because if the moment passes, you can't go back and use it again.

Okay.

And I've got some things to say about the governor as well.

I'm, I'm going to say some really positive things to start off.

He's not here today because no, no, no, no, dear God.

A wink or pointer or something.

Okay, I'll tell you where he is.

He's down in Knoxville watching will play baseball.

So I will be happy to give him a pass for this.

But I'm going to tell you what about the last three years.

[APPLAUSE] This is the Andy Tracker that we've got.

And with every place he's been, it's very difficult to find out where he is.

Oh ho ho ho.

Hold on a second.

Oh, yes.

Andy is in Vegas.

Apparently, Andy figured that the safest bet this weekend was to avoid standing on this stage between the lieutenant governor and his former senior aide.

>> Retiring U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell was not at Fancy Farm this year.

He famously loves this event and hasn't missed many of them during his time in public office.

This would have been his final time to address the crowd as a sitting U.S.

senator.

The 84 year old has been recovering since mid-June after suffering a fall that left him unconscious at his Washington, D.C.

home seven weeks ago.

On Saturday, many Republicans had kind words for McConnell, as did political Chairman Steven Elder.

>> Now, I'd like to take a moment just to recognize someone who has been an important part of the history of the picnic for many decades.

Today, Senator Mitch McConnell is unable to join us.

For generations, Senator McConnell has made this trip to Fancy Farm.

Standing on this stage, engaging in the spirited tradition that has made this gathering unlike any other in America, regardless of party or political viewpoint, few individuals have had a greater impact on Kentucky's voice in Washington, and have devoted more years of public service on behalf of the Commonwealth.

From the community of Fancy Farm and the people gathered here today, we extend our gratitude to Senator McConnell for his years of faithful service to Kentucky and our nation.

We wish him and Elaine all the very best, and we hope you will join me in thanking him and Senator McConnell with a warm round of applause.

[APPLAUSE] >> Come November, Kentuckians will decide who should succeed McConnell.

Candidates hoping to do just that.

We're at Fancy Farm making their case to voters.

Kentucky's sixth district congressman, Andy Barr, sailed to victory in the GOP primary back in May.

He's up against three time U.S.

Senate candidate and former Democratic state representative Charles Booker.

A third candidate, Christopher Campbell with the Kentucky party, was also allowed to speak this year, supporters for the traditional party candidates flocked to West Kentucky over the weekend to cheer them on.

Our Mackenzie Spink caught up with some of those supporters to learn why they wanted to be at Fancy Farm on the first Saturday in August.

>> Something Representative Andy Barr emphasized during his primary campaign was his experience in office.

He says his current role as representative for Kentucky's sixth district would give him momentum as a senator, given the work he is already doing with President Trump and others in Washington.

His supporters echo that that's one of the reasons he's their pick to replace Senator McConnell.

>> I think Andy understands Kentucky.

He understands Kentucky families.

It's a challenging time for a lot of us.

And I think he's going to be the voice that can carry weight in Washington.

He's not going to have to spend the first two years finding the bathroom, finding his way around up there.

>> Supporters I talked to at Fancy Farm also emphasized his relatability and in-person charisma.

>> I like him, he seems like a real person.

He's comical.

He has a young family and you know that makes a difference.

He he can talk to different age groups.

>> On the Democratic side, Charles Booker supporters say he's the true people's candidate.

>> Booker has been building relationships across the state for several years and is always standing up for working people.

And that's what really matters.

>> To me.

When he talks, he lets us know that he's for the individual man, the poor, the middle class, and just for us to do, to have a better life and for us to have a better life as Kentuckians.

And so I like his positivity.

I like that he continues to fight for people.

>> As far as the issues the supporters care about, the economy continues to be a concern.

>> You sit down at the kitchen table and you go over your family budget.

It's gotten a little tighter every, every, every month.

And we understand that there's a lot of things going on globally that we need to be in the right position for.

I want to make sure we have for children, I want to make sure that their future is bright and that they have an opportunity to succeed.

>> Some have specific legislation they want to see passed.

>> I want to say that to pass because I think every person should get to vote if they're an American citizen.

So I want my legislators, my congressmen.

I want them to pass that.

I don't want someone who comes from another country who weighs the flag from another country to come to my country and vote for somebody.

>> Booker supporters were largely concerned about reduced public services like SNAP and Medicaid.

They want to see big pivots away from the current political trends.

>> Our health care systems are taking a beating.

Our public services like SNAP and, insurance have been taking a beating that that everybody can have access to.

So we want, I think we need to make sure that everybody has access to the things they need, like health care and food and public education.

>> Right now, I think the common man is being forgotten, being able to afford food and housing is not the number one thing out there with other candidates besides the Democrat ones.

>> Both camps brought big energy to this year's Fancy Farm picnic.

Bold signs, debates on the sidewalk, and the roar of chanting are all part of the intersection of politics that make Fancy Farm an event unlike any other.

For KET.

I'm McKenzie Spink.

[MUSIC] >> But I'm glad my opponent, Charles Booker, is here.

You see a lot of stories that the Democratic Party is out of step with voters.

By that standard, I would have to say the Democrats have picked the perfect candidate.

And Charles, you know, I would call him the Mamdani of Kentucky.

[APPLAUSE] But Madon has actually won an election.

You know, Charles is a community organizer.

Newsflash, that's not a job.

[APPLAUSE] That's when that's what you put on a resume.

When professional complainer sounds too negative.

[APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] I heard Charles recently learned how out of step he was with Kentucky voters and decided to repair his image.

So he walked into a bourbon bar and announced, I'm a socialist drinker.

The bartender asked, don't you mean you're a social drinker?

Charles responded, no, no, I'm a socialist drinker.

I only drink when someone else is picking up the tab.

[APPLAUSE] You know?

Charles has been endorsed by Socialist Bernie Sanders, AOC and the Indian princess herself, Elizabeth Warren, Charles and the socialists.

It sounds like a name of a band no one wants to listen to.

It's like ABBA, but they can't sing money, money, money because it's always been redistributed.

Charles socialism doesn't work in Cuba and it won't work in Kentucky.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] The socialists can keep their electric scooters or oatmeal.

Can the Green New Deal in Kentucky, we like our trucks, our mint juleps and our AC set to 68.

[APPLAUSE] My opponent's whole platform is abolish, abolish Ice, abolish the border, abolish police, abolish prisons, abolish private health care, abolish student debt.

[APPLAUSE] Come November, he's going to wish they abolished Election Day.

[APPLAUSE] Charles opposes showing an ID to vote.

I think that's crazy.

But then again, if I was one of Charles voters, I wouldn't want to identify myself either.

[APPLAUSE] He's also for universal basic income.

In other words, paying people to not work.

But Charles is always thinking ahead.

Now he's trying to figure out how to pay overtime for not working.

Charles and the socialists say they want to tax the rich, but they consider rich anyone who owns a pair of socks to match.

They believe in shared sacrifice, which means you sacrifice your paycheck and they share in it.

They say they're working for the working people.

Then they propose policies to make it harder to work.

In Kentucky, socialism is as popular as Christian Laettner.

[APPLAUSE] >> Now, to my Republican family, let me say something to you.

Even Thomas Massie said this Republicans run everything in Washington.

You got the House, the Senate, and the white House.

What has that done for you?

[APPLAUSE] They've delivered nothing.

[APPLAUSE] Andy Barr has been a failure in the Congress, and we're not going to reward mediocrity by promoting him to the US Senate.

No, we're not going out like that.

We're going to replace Mitch McConnell by retiring his puppet in Andy Barr.

[APPLAUSE] Now, I know you don't know who Andy Barr is.

He never shows up for you.

I know you don't know who he is.

Let me tell you know, he's not the Andy that gets things done.

This Andy is a bit of a fraud.

He's a charlatan.

Andy Barr has been a shapeshifter.

He's been a moderate Republican, and now he's trying to cosplay like he wants to make America great again.

Cut the act, Andy Barr.

Nobody's buying it.

Andy Barr.

Andy Barr is a weak version of Mitch McConnell and a bootleg version of Donald Trump.

Andy Barr.

[MUSIC] Andy Barr is the Nate Morris of Matt Bevin's.

The man is a joke.

Andy Barr is a status quo politician who would rather fund endless war and protect the Epstein files instead of stand up for you.

[APPLAUSE] Now, I know one thing all of us agree in protecting our children.

So why would Andy Barr refuse to push for the release of the Epstein Files?

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] I will never support child predators.

I will never protect.

[APPLAUSE] And folks, one of the worst things about it all is Andy Barr knows better.

Mitch McConnell.

Okay, wait a minute.

Where in the world is Mitch McConnell?

What is going on with Mitch McConnell?

[APPLAUSE] I was the first person to call for transparency.

And instead of speaking up for Kentucky, Andy Barr has been quiet as a church mouse.

He refuses to say anything.

Now.

Kentucky one thing we hate more than bullies is cowards.

[APPLAUSE] The only person that's radical in this Senate race is Andy Barr.

Andy Barr's whole idea in this campaign was to put an ad on TV saying it's a sin to be white.

That is crazy.

Come on, Andy, let me help you.

It's not a sin to be who God created you to be.

It's not a sin to stand in your faith, but it ought to be a sin to be that desperate.

Come on folks, we are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I'm not running to trash talk, Andy.

That look, Imma beat him, but it's still my brother and I'm still gonna fight for you in Washington.

>> What does Garland Barr represent?

Seriously, he clearly doesn't represent competence.

Think about it.

Your representative will sit in a room with a weapons dealer, a pharmacy rep, or Donald Trump, listen to them speak and think, wow, this makes sense.

This guy has good ideas.

Charles Booker is morally compromised.

He is morally compromised because the leaders of the Democratic Party have sold themselves to Israel, and they have left Kentucky behind.

[MUSIC] Mr.

Booker is allowed to say whatever he wishes, so long as he doesn't follow through on those words.

My opponents want to send your kids across the globe to die in wars at the behest of foreign empires, but at least Charles will apologize.

Thanks, Charles.

Essentially, my opponents are the same.

Republicans are Democrats, and Democrats are Republicans.

All you have to do is look at the endless wars that we are constantly locked in.

They lead by one mantra everything for the rich.

Whatever else they can scrape aside for themselves and nothing for Kentucky, that mantra is no more evident than the unmitigated expansion of AI data centers across our country.

Trillions of taxpayer subsidies have been poured into large AI corporations.

Now, technology is not inherently antagonistic toward humanity, as it has significantly improved the human condition.

However, it does carry the potential to impair human life if it is not focused at positive objectives.

There is $100 billion proposal that will send funds to Western Kentucky for data center implementation.

This will increase your utility bills and decrease the amount of money in your pockets.

And many of you have already experienced these burdens firsthand.

[APPLAUSE] They came for the trees, they came for the mountains, and now they're coming for everything else.

And why is that?

Because someone, somewhere, will always sell out the rest of us to make some money.

Barr and Booker Barr and Booker.

I'm gonna start calling y'all Schumer and McConnell.

Although I shouldn't speak ill of the dead.

[APPLAUSE] Kentucky requires representation.

I am here to represent you.

Kentucky not special interest and not the elites in D.C.

Chuck and Mitch ain't going to do that for you.

You need someone who will fight for your individual liberties over corporate greed.

So I will stand against foreign interests and government overreach.

Someone who will reduce wasteful spending, rein in billionaires, and someone who will stop sending our money and our families overseas to fight the genocides for sociopaths.

>> Republican U.S.

Senator Rand Paul was also at Fancy Farm this year.

He had plenty of attacks for the Democrats and credited Kentucky's GOP supermajority for Kentucky's economic successes.

>> The U.S.

Senate race is going to be a doozy between Andy Barr and a and a between Andy Barr and a guy who never passed the bar.

[APPLAUSE] I guess.

I guess this means that Democrat bench is empty, because I'll bet you even the Democrats for Hamas are not coming in this year.

I can't believe Andy Beshear is not here to support you.

But then again, he didn't come last time either.

At least you've got the lieutenant governor here.

And I had I worked and I worked, I tried to come up with an insult for her, but for the life of me, I can't remember her name.

[APPLAUSE] I guess.

I guess Beshear is busy running for higher office.

With any luck, he might be the next Pete Buttigieg.

[APPLAUSE] A wannabe that eventually no one remembers where they came from or where they went.

Bashir's got the resume for it.

No accomplishments, but an infinite amount of borrowing from the accomplishments of others.

[APPLAUSE] Now, Bashir Bashir is keen.

He's keen to let you know he's a Democrat that knows a Bible verse, but he's yet to trot out the Bible verse that supports the mutilation of children.

[APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] As far as Bashir bragging about the state of Kentucky, Kentucky's successful economy comes from one source and one source only, and that's our Republican majority.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] One of our proudest moments came as a state, when the state legislature rebuked Beshear and told him his emergency powers were no more.

[APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] Never again.

Never again will a governor be allowed to send the state police after people trying to go to church.

[APPLAUSE] Never again.

Never again will a governor be allowed to commandeer your restaurant, your hotel, or your gym.

Never again will the governor close our schools.

[APPLAUSE] Kentucky thrives not because of the direction of a liberal Democrat governor, but because our Constitution limits the power of our governors.

Every single one, every single one of his vetoes were overridden by the Republican legislature.

[APPLAUSE] If Andy Beshear is remembered, it will for be for being neutered at every turn by the Republican legislature.

If Andy Beshear is remembered, it may be as being the last Democrat governor.

>> Now to another congressional race.

Fancy Farm and Graves County are in the first congressional District in the U.S.

House, and Congressman James Comer made his pitch to be reelected for a seventh term.

His Democratic opponent, John Drew Williams of Marshall County, was also there to present his position on a need for change in party representation.

>> I am here for you.

Then we follow it up with representation that cannot be bought.

Federal officials, top appointees and their immediate families should be banned from trading individual stock trades while they hold power over legislation and public spending.

[APPLAUSE] We have to eliminate dark money in politics, ban politicians from becoming lobbyists and for proper ethics reform for the entire federal government.

When your representative owns personal stocks and mega corporations like Amazon, Google, Microsoft surveillance, state companies like Palantir, and companies positioned to profit from AI, from data center expansion and from the military industrial complex.

Or when they take PAC donations from big oil banking and private equity.

How can you say with confidence they will stand up for you when they won't hold public events or meet people where they are?

People should never wonder whether a vote abandons their community to serve a corporate donor or their personal portfolio.

Right now, I'm calling on every Kentucky candidate and officeholder to reject corporate and nonunion special interest PAC money, publicly disavow dark money and super PACs support and pledge to not trade individual stocks while serving.

We need standards in Kentucky that rise above party personality and political ambition.

Representation means knowing where your unique concerns lie, whether it's preventing mudslides and stabilizing roads in the city of Hickman, whether it's upgrading your wastewater system, building affordable housing in Murray, understanding Arlington's proposed agricultural waste to energy plant, answering the uncertainty around the proposed uranium enrichment in Paducah.

Community based services for our seniors in Benton, and continuing the recovery of homes and businesses here in Mayfield.

Nearly five years after the tornado.

Across this district, it means standing up for families who rely on medical waivers and affordable prescriptions for survival, and for standing against the reckless push to put AI data centers and private surveillance cameras in every corner of our rural communities.

These are not Washington talking points.

These are our homes, our health, our livelihoods, and our future.

So, Mr.

Comer, I sincerely want to thank you for dropping out of this congressional race as you set your sights on running for governor next year.

After ten long years in the swamps of D.C.

it is only right you come home and remember how to connect with a broad range of families you hope to serve.

>> My focus.

Has always been to be the one guy in Washington who gets the backs of the working people.

My primary mission is to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.

[APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] I have fought the corrupt special interests.

I have exposed dirty politicians who turned a blind eye to fraud, and I have led depositions of some of the most powerful and richest men in the world in both parties.

I will continue to fight every day for the forgotten Kentuckians.

Those people who work hard, pay taxes, take care of their families, and go to church on Sundays.

I've worked very closely with President Trump to successfully secure the border and deport the criminal illegals.

Despite every single Democrat in Washington opposing that, I strongly support the Save America Act, which requires a valid ID with proof of citizenship in order to vote.

Despite every single Democrat in Congress opposing it.

I will continue to oppose the Socialist Democrat Party takeover of America.

[APPLAUSE] Those three Democrats on the stage all endorsed Socialist Charles Booker for Kentucky's U.S.

Senate seat, and they endorsed Dimbo for Congress in Lexington.

Who will vote for Hakeem Jeffries to be the next speaker of the House?

No, I doubt Hakeem Jeffries is going to have the working men and women of Kentucky's best interest at heart.

So, my friends, if you want illegals voting in elections, if you want more welfare fraud and a socialist takeover, then vote for these Democrats on the stage.

But if you want secure elections, welfare fraudsters apprehended and deported, and if you want freedom and liberty, then vote for the people on this side of the stage.

The Republicans.

>> One of the interesting things at this year's Fancy Farm was a preview of a race that still ten months away, two Democratic candidates for Kentucky governor shared the stage this year.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman and former senior advisor to the governor, Rocky Adkins.

>> I caught up with supporters of both candidates to learn more about why they are backing their pick.

>> It will be a good race, there's no doubt about it.

>> And there's no doubt that the 2027 Kentucky governor's race drew crowds of supporters at Fancy Farm.

Ralph Hopkins came all the way from Clay County in eastern Kentucky to show his favor for Democratic candidates.

Rocky Adkins.

>> Rocky is just an outstanding individual.

He is personable.

You can talk to him about any issue.

I like his positions on the different issues that he's taken, and I like the work he's done.

>> Hoskins said he was impressed by Adkins nearly 40 years of public service, and the way he's been the right hand man to Governor Andy Beshear when it comes to issues that drive his support.

Affordability was top of mind.

>> It's hard in Kentucky right now.

Gas prices are high.

Everything's going up.

We need somebody to guide us and take us in the right direction.

And I think Brock is that person.

>> McCracken County native Colt Bodie came out to support fellow Democratic candidate Jacqueline Coleman.

Body said he was ready for fresh representation on the Democratic side, and he appreciates Coleman's support for public education.

>> As a former teacher, I got to support a teacher because she knows what it's like being in the classroom, dealing with the students every day.

I've been really impressed by the eight years that she served as lieutenant governor.

Of course, there's not so much in the way of direct policy that she can institute herself, but she's a really good advocate for the administration and all the policies that they do put in place.

>> Both gentlemen said they had nothing against the other Democratic candidate, and they'd be ready to support whoever wins the primary in 2027.

>> I like Jacqueline, I've met her a time or two.

She's a fine lady.

It's just I've known Rocky for some much longer, and I've seen what he's done and what he can do.

>> While I support Jacqueline in this primary.

I have previously previously supported Rocky.

I'm going to vote for a Democrat no matter what.

So we're just going to have to see how the primary winds up.

I'm going to vote for whoever is the eventual nominee.

But I think Jacqueline is very personable person.

She's very kind, she's very genuine.

And Rocky is as well.

It's just a matter of where they're going to line up on certain policies that really speak to the most people, to see who the eventual nominee is going to be.

>> For KET, I'm Emily Prince.

>> I know at least some of you are are really upset that Andy couldn't be here this year.

And I want you to know that I tried.

I really tried to get him here.

I even told him Fancy Farm was in New Hampshire, but it didn't work.

It just didn't work.

Now listen, Andy and I have had a great run, more economic investment and more job creation than ever in Kentucky's history.

[APPLAUSE] And it all started because we barely beat Matt Bevin back in 2019.

But they're still making headlines.

Both of them are still making headlines.

Beshear as a presidential contender and Bevin as a perennial criminal.

[APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] I really cannot imagine how embarrassed I would be if we lost to a guy like that.

[APPLAUSE] Poor old James Comer.

He went from losing to criminals in Kentucky to protecting them in DC.

[APPLAUSE] Meanwhile, the Beshear Coleman administration has been busy protecting Kentuckians.

We have sky high approval ratings for a reason.

We prioritized public education, and so did every county across Kentucky.

When we defeated amendment two in a landslide.

We built a strong foundation for a better future in Kentucky.

And now is not the time to take our foot off the gas.

The next governor, whoever she may be.

Has to keep our Winston going by focusing on working families, by fighting for the health care Kentuckians deserve pre-K for all affordable housing, and finally delivering the raise.

Our educators deserve.

Finally, to my two potential opponents in the upcoming year, Rocky and Jamie.

I've known them both for a very long time.

They both actually served in the house with my dad, so they'll probably tell you that they knew me when I was in diapers.

And if these two hang around much longer, I'm going to be able to say the same thing about them.

>> I've been listening to a whole lot over my left shoulder here today, and a lot of what's going on in their definition of public service is trying to hurt people.

And I want to touch on some of those things that have hurt people over the last several months.

You know, there was a bill that came through and they voted to cut Medicaid $1 trillion, and through that, cut a vote that would close 35 rural hospitals throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

I think that's wrong.

How about you?

A vote that would kick 200,000 people off their health insurance?

I think that's wrong.

How about you?

And a vote that threatens 30,000 health care workers across this commonwealth.

I think that's wrong.

How about you?

And if that wasn't enough, they turned around and then voted to cut the Snap program, affecting more than 4000 people across this great commonwealth.

And guess what?

12,000 of those 40,000 was taken food right out of little children's mouth.

I think that's wrong.

How about you?

[APPLAUSE] Well, I believe real leadership and real public service is about getting results for the people of Kentucky.

Real leadership is what this governor, Andy Beshear, has produced, and I've been honored to be his senior advisor.

Real leadership is about securing more than $50 billion in economic development and private sector investment across this great commonwealth of Kentucky over the last six and a half years.

Real public service is about creating 70,000 new jobs at the highest wages in Kentucky's history.

That's what real leadership is about.

How about you?

[APPLAUSE] And real leadership and public service is about creating an environment that is broken.

The tourism record in Kentucky over the last four years.

I like that kind of leadership.

How about you?

And real leadership is about announcing more than 1300 businesses, expanding new locations across this commonwealth.

I think that's real leadership.

How about you?

[APPLAUSE] And I do believe that real leadership is about bringing common sense and common ground.

How about you?

>> Most of Kentucky's constitutional officers were there as well.

The state attorney general, auditor and treasurer had similar scripted themes, blasting Democratic policies and attacking the governor for being a no show.

>> Sadly, sadly, today's.

>> Democrat Party has left West Kentucky behind.

It's the party of AOC.

It's the party of Graham Platner, and it's the party of Mr.

Booker.

It's a party of socialists.

It's a party of anti of anti-Semitism.

And it is the party of anti-police radicals.

[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] They're wrong friends.

They're wrong for Kentucky and wrong for our future.

Kentucky.

Kentucky needs fighters.

They need fighters in Washington and fighters in Frankfort.

And we've got some of the best standing on this side of the stage today.

I am proud, I am proud to stand alongside powerhouse Congressman James Comer and the next governor of this Commonwealth.

[APPLAUSE] And how about how about the next United States senator from this Commonwealth, Andy Barr?

[APPLAUSE] Now, Mr.

Baker, at the other end of the spectrum, Mr.

Baker is a fine man, and I appreciate his cover for our governor's absence here today.

There's there's another view for why he's not standing on stage and alternative that's out there.

And I just want to address this standing here.

It's good Intel that he skipped out on this picnic today because he was afraid.

Great emcee today, but he was afraid our friend David Beck might be back up here as emcee.

[APPLAUSE] It is.

It's an absolute privilege to serve as your AG.

And I am so proud for what we've done to help fight for your families and keep them safe.

We've launched Better Without It.

It's a campaign to protect kids from the drug crisis, first of its kind in the country.

We are surging resources, surging resources to tackle violent crime by going after trigger pullers.

In just a few weeks, we'll be taking Facebook to court, sitting across from Facebook for harming our kids.

We go to the where the threats are and we're not stopping.

>> At the Treasury.

My job isn't finding new ways to spend your money.

My job is finding money you already own and getting it back to you.

[APPLAUSE] Since taking office, we've returned more than $117 million in unclaimed property, and we've returned it to Kentucky families and businesses.

We know that the best check we can write is the one that lands in your own mailbox.

We've traveled the Commonwealth, we meet Kentuckians, and we return their money.

And we've done more through responsible investments.

We've helped Kentuckians earn more than $1.7 billion, and it's helping Kentucky reduce its debts, meet its expenses, and save for tomorrow.

We know that every debt paid down and every dollar earned is one less dollar needed from taxpayers.

We're breaking old records and we're setting new ones, and we're making changes.

When I was a prosecutor, I didn't tolerate people skipping their child support or cheating crime victims, and I don't tolerate it today.

When people who have unclaimed property coming to them also owe child support and crime restitution, we're making sure that those obligations are paid first, and we're doing even more.

Our stable Kentucky program allows disabled Kentuckians to create tax free savings accounts so they can save for their own tomorrows and plan their own futures.

We're making them more independent, and we're managing for them $27 million of their own money.

There's one more thing we never forget.

This isn't government's money.

It's your money.

>> You already know that.

I take rooting out waste, fraud and abuse very seriously out here in the real world.

We know that that's not the government's money.

It's your money.

And the Democrats just don't get that.

I'm sure we all remember when Andy Beshear dressed up as Mister Rogers for Halloween.

A lot of folks on my side of the aisle mocked him for doing it, but I actually thought that was a pretty good costume for him after all.

On each team Kentucky Update and Andy Beshear podcast episode, he introduces the tens of people watching to his neighborhood of make believe.

I mean, seriously, Andy Beshear hosting a podcast about honest conversations is like Charles Booker or Amy McGrath hosting a podcast about winning a statewide election.

It just doesn't work.

Fortunately, no amount of make believe will lead our governor to the white House.

In a recent poll, AOC led the ballot with.

Are Mister Rogers pulling an impressive 1%, setting himself well up for a cabinet appointment in her imaginary administration.

It's always good to see Democrats show up for Fancy Farm.

Their numbers on stage have increased at least 400% since last year.

And as you've already seen, Charles Booker is here today and well on his way to his third consecutive statewide election loss.

Here's the lesson running as a communist in Kentucky doesn't work.

[APPLAUSE] In fact, as history has shown us time and time again, communism never works.

[APPLAUSE] Maybe he thinks third time's the charm, but did he forget that he's running against Andy Barr?

We'll take our Andy over there, Andy every day of the week.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] Jacqueline Coleman and Rocky Atkins are also here today.

And you may not know this, but in their spare time, they both manage a gas station in Frankfort.

For the last six years, they've dumped gasoline on every single dumpster fire blazing within the Beshear administration.

Whether it's over $1 billion of wasted Kentucky taxpayer money, or less than half of all Kentucky students being proficient in any school subject or in eligible immigrants getting public benefits and driver's licenses.

Jacqueline and Rocky have fueled those fires every step of the way.

>> Secretary of State Michael Adams, who was the final political speaker on Saturday, kept the audience on their toes.

>> That's right, Laura, it was rumored that Adams might announce that he was running for governor.

Instead, he said that he would back First District Congressman James Comer if he decides to run for the executive office.

I caught up with Adams after his speech to talk about that decision and his future political plans.

But first, here's some of what Adams had to say on Saturday.

>> The governor's race has already started.

I'm going to stay out of the Democrats primary.

But I know one thing with Rocky Adkins we'll never have a scandal involving a hairdresser.

Folks.

We need a Republican governor.

We need a proven conservative with a proven record of governing well and winning big.

We need a governor who will work with our legislators to solve our biggest challenges.

Andy Beshear promised to improve education, but our kids scores have gone down.

Andy Beshear has competed with Gavin Newsom not just for a presidential nomination, but to see who could close school house doors the longest under Andy Beshear.

We now have a housing crisis.

Our housing crisis is so bad, even the Kentucky Democratic Party is homeless.

[APPLAUSE] Friends, we cannot have a third term of Andy Beshear.

And if we have a Governor Coleman or a Governor Atkins, we're likely to have a President Beshear.

If you don't want Andy Beshear in the white House, don't let him install his understudy in the governor's mansion.

Republicans, we're going to have the fight of our lives in 2027.

The Democrats are going to pull out all the stops to claw on to the one office.

They can still win.

We absolutely have to nominate our strongest ticket.

The first thing we must do to strengthen our chances is to avoid some messy primary where we all attack each other.

Let the Democrats do that.

I've said Republicans can't take any chances weakening our shot in 2027.

And that goes for me, too.

I've dedicated my career to our beloved Republican Party, and the best thing I can do for my team is to call on all Republicans to join me in supporting James Comer to be our next governor.

James Comer is not only the strongest candidate we'll have for governor, he's the best prepared to do the job in 2027.

Less damage James Comer and he will lead us to victory.

[APPLAUSE] Let's unite right now and let's win next year.

I support James Comer.

I think he's the best candidate that our party has.

I think he's the strongest candidate.

I think he will generate the most energy and intensity with our base.

And I also think he has appeal across the divide.

I think he's the best prepared candidate.

Republicans have to be the governor, even better, I think, than me.

So I fully support James Comer.

It was a difficult decision.

It's awful hard to step away from something that is something you've pursued.

You know, but candidly, I think he's the best person for the job.

>> Now, I have to ask finally you.

I couldn't help but notice you made a remark and that said, this is not the last you'll see of me.

Any aspirations you can share with.

>> Well, I'm a I'm a young guy.

I got another race or two left in me.

It's a long game.

I don't have any other announcements to make today.

I've made enough announcements.

>> After the fiery speeches ended, KET political commentators critiqued the messages and messengers.

Here are some of what they had to say during our live broadcast on Saturday.

>> Lots of interesting things today.

I think specifically on the Republican side, we did not hear any mentions of President Donald Trump.

The only people who mentioned Donald Trump were on the Democrat side.

I find that fascinating right now.

I think that tells us where some of the president's numbers might be in Kentucky right now.

We know where they are on a nationwide scale.

I think the fact that Congressman Comer really did not hint towards any 2020, 2027 run for governor.

He stayed narrow.

He didn't have to.

Right.

He stayed where he was on the ballot.

He let other people do that for him, which is the way that you want to do that.

And I would say on the Democrat side, kudos to Jacqueline Coleman.

She delivered one heck of a speech today.

She was funny.

Her cadence was good.

Her delivery was good.

She did not try to jam pack too much into her speech today.

And so, you know, I would say on the Democrat side, lieutenant governor did really well today.

>> Yeah, I did see your jaw drop when she came for her state auditor.

Right.

She can.

>> I just say Alison Balls hair looks fine.

It looks great.

And it looked very nice today.

>> Yes it did, despite all the heat and humidity, she looked great.

>> That was a unanimous opinion.

>> Yes, absolutely.

>> A couple of things that you said that I thought were really smart.

I mean, one was she talked about how Coleman's speech was tight.

Some of the other Democrats I thought suffered from throwing too much out there.

You know, the best part of Booker's speech to me was at the end where he was talking about affordability and some of the kitchen table issues that he doesn't have a chance in Kentucky.

But that message is the message that Democrats around the country are going to try to make to try to flip the US Senate and the US House, and he probably should have spent more of his speech talking about them, because that's a more a much more effective message.

She's right about the comer didn't tease anything at all.

Not even a I'll be back next year or anything like that.

And for him, though the day was bookended, the first speaker, Jason Howell, gave a quasi endorsement.

He didn't actually come out right and say it in that speech.

He did it in the breakfast, but he talked about comer and then obviously Adams at the end.

And so on the Republican side, there was this theme of unity.

You know, the Democrats, they had the we had the preview for the for the primary with the two of the, with Rocky and Jacqueline kind of a little bit at one another.

I agree Coleman had the best speech.

I was a little disappointed with Rocky's speech when I left.

When I was done with that speech, I asked myself, why would I vote for Rocky?

He spent a lot of time talking about national issues.

He didn't talk as much about his own record.

And so if you're trying to figure out who's your standard bearer, I thought Coleman won the day on the Democratic side.

>> I think I saw is that people want to see you doing your job.

And that's what comer conveyed today, not just always moving up.

Of course, most people get elected and end up running for higher office, or many do.

And that that goes for some of us right here.

But to stick with it completely sent a strong message that he's very focused on where he is and what he's doing.

Although there were plenty of others saying comer for governor, back to Adams, Adams might be a good prospect for lieutenant governor or another role in this campaign, including state chairman.

Just thinking, brainstorming with you here.

Yeah.

>> And when you talk the Jacqueline Coleman and Rocky Atkins dynamic, we saw there was that one shot.

You know, they were high fiving each other.

Somebody had made a comment that that made them do that.

They did.

We didn't see them really attacking each other.

I think Jacqueline had one little joke on the end about his age or something, but.

>> I think both of them demonstrated their their skills and talents and what kind of candidates are going to be.

I think that's what we talked about before the show.

Jacqueline was very polished.

She was funny.

She focused on on the kinds of issues that, you know, the education issues that she's built her career.

And and Rocky, you know, gave a standard barnburner.

I thought it was a very good one, good speech.

And, you know, focusing on all of the great work that the Beshear administration has done, bringing jobs and, and business to the state.

So I think this is shaping up to be a very strong race between the two of them.

And hopefully it will stay >> Positive, and we'll get to have a really good decision to make.

>> On the Republican side, we didn't really hear anything about President Trump, but they did certainly bring up President Biden and then also Governor Beshear.

He took a lot of heat today.

Were you expecting that?

I guess just not being there, maybe he sets himself up a little more for that.

>> Yeah, that's clear.

When you're not there, you know you're going to get beat up.

But if you were there, I don't know that they would have said any less.

Right?

It just might have framed it differently than than talking about his absence.

The trick that we Republicans have is that Beshear has won the last two gubernatorial elections and still polls pretty well.

And there is this frustration that Beshear will issue a press release about this economic development announcement or the budget surplus or whatever.

And it's the Republican legislature that's passing the tax framework and the spending bills and things like that.

And so there is this tension.

We didn't we didn't hear it as much in this just because of the the context of who was actually speaking.

But that's kind of this undercurrent.

So it's very easy, again, to unify the Republican Party against Andy Beshear.

And, and again, like, that's this message was a good unifying message.

It was a good unifying day.

>> It was.

And I think one thing that I picked up on in Lieutenant Governor's speech, everybody knows that Governor Beshear has had really good approval ratings, right?

That's one of the things that is touted regularly.

And one comment that she made specifically was we have sky high approval ratings.

We being the word there to focus on.

And it's interesting to me because I'm not for sure.

Anytime somebody talks about approval ratings, I think they're really looking at Andy Beshear.

I don't necessarily think they're looking at them as the team.

And so I think that was a preview and a hint of some messaging that she's really going to lean in as the lieutenant governor.

But that that word we really caught my ear.

>> I think I think both Jacqueline and Rocky will be using we a lot again, same, same themes of attacks on the governor we've been hearing for the last eight years, and so far they haven't impacted his approval in the state.

He has been a Teflon governor in terms of those kinds of attacks.

And, you know, he's starting off as a real long shot for president.

But the way he aggravates Republicans in this state, I think, is a is a good sign that he could be a strong candidate for president.

>> And that does it for our coverage of the 146th Fancy Farm picnic.

You can see the speeches in their entirety online and on demand@ket.org.

>> And stay up to date on all of your Kentucky political news with Kentucky Edition Monday through Friday at 630 eastern, 530 central.

I'm Laura Rogers with Emily Prince.

Thank you for watching.