COVID-19 silences political speaking at this year’s Fancy Farm picnic
There will no political zingers in front of a large, raucous crowd and a statewide television audience this year at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in far Western Kentucky that traditionally kicks off the fall political campaign season.
The political speaking program at this year’s 140th annual picnic in Graves County scheduled for Aug. 1 has been called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Steven Elder, a spokesman for the political speaking part of the picnic, confirmed Thursday that the picnic’s stage for political speakers will be empty and quiet this year.
The political speaking usually begins at 2 p.m. local time on the first Saturday of August before several hundred people and is broadcast live on Kentucky Educational Television.
The crowds usually roar at the partisan barbs the politicians hurl. A highlight of this year’s picnic was to be speeches by party nominees for the U.S. Senate featuring Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell and the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary election.
“Our committee last week had said we would have political speaking in Fancy Farm Elementary School with a limited crowd instead of at the picnic grounds pavilion but that has all changed now,” said Elder, admitting to be “a bit frustrated.”
He said the decision to cancel the political speaking was that of Father Darrell Venters, parish priest for St. Jerome Catholic Church. The picnic is an annual fundraiser for the church.
“There still will be a very, very small picnic with the grounds primarily empty,” said Elder. “It won’t be the same.”
The Mayfield Messenger reported Thursday that Venters had posted on Facebook that the political speaking at the picnic was canceled. A receptionist at the church confirmed that. He was not available for comment.
Venter’s Facebook post said his decision came, “After a lot of prayer, discerning the wisdom and understanding from the Holy Spirit, gathering the ‘sense of the faithful,’ considering the diocesan guidelines from Bishop (William) Medley and the State of Kentucky, looking at the ‘signs of the times,’ considering the welfare of the parishioners and members of the community.”
“I know this is a disappointment to some and comes as a relief to others,” Venters said. “However, taking into consideration all the factors, I believe it is the best route to take at this time.”
The priest said the picnic still will sell pork and mutton by the pound and T-shirts and conduct an online and person-to-person raffle, but other booths and stands will not be open. He also said no Friday night events will be held and no camping sites will be rented.
Venters said he appreciated the work of the picnic’s political speaking committee.
“The parish of St. Jerome has been in existence for 184 years,” he added. “During those 184 years, the people have lived and prayed through times of drought, wars, pandemics, times of plenty and times of scarcity and have held steady to the faith and depended on God’s providence.
“We will continue to do the same in our time and in the future.”
