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Fancy Farm Launches Fall Campaign For Kentucky Elections

fancy farm
Michael Monks/The River City News
The Fancy Farm crowd in 2015.

It's barely a spot on the map at all, but every time the first Saturday in August rolls around, the tiny community of Fancy Farm becomes the center of Kentucky politics. A small covered stage placed in the middle of the St. Jerome Parish Festival in the far western reaches of the commonwealth is traipsed by Kentucky’s most influential political names as they hurl jokes and not-so-veiled insults at one another, all while being heckled by the virulently partisan crowds.

This year, the political heavyweights are expected to be particularly fiery, with Governor Matt Bevin facing a tough challenge for re-election against Attorney General Andy Beshear, the scion of Bevin’s predecessor. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will also attend as he stares down his own re-election next year.

This unique Kentucky tradition is known for its hot piles of mutton as much as for its politics – but it is the unofficial kickoff of the fall campaign in the Bluegrass State. Who will land the best jokes – and most importantly, the biggest blows?

Our panel of Northern Kentucky political observers break down what happened in Graves County on Saturday afternoon and take a look at where all the races are as Kentucky voters choose their next governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, agriculture commissioner and auditor. Joining Cincinnati Edition are Northern Kentucky University political science professor Ryan Salzman; Campbell County Republican Party Chair and attorney Sarah Cameron; and former Kenton County Democratic Party Chair and attorney Col Owens.

Listen to Cincinnati Edition live at noon M-F. Audio for this segment will be uploaded after 4 p.m. ET.

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Michael Monks brings a broad range of experience to WVXU-FM as the host of Cincinnati Edition, Cincinnati Public Radio's weekday news and information talk show.