LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- It's a uniquely Kentucky political picnic and those confirmed to speak ought to make this as wild a year as ever.
We're now less than four weeks from Fancy Farm, the western Kentucky tradition where many politicians go to take jabs at their opponents in front of wild crowds.
In recent years, some on one side of the aisle or the other have skipped out. But it should be quite a show this year with the Bevin versus Beshear feud confirmed to be in the spotlight at one of the most anticipated political events of the year.
Fancy Farm is known for politics, barbecue and hot weather, and this year should be no exception with Fancy Farm organizer Mark Wilson confirming that most of the invited speakers have confirmed that they'll be in the tiny western Kentucky town for the August 3 event.
Three years ago most Democrats skipped, including Attorney General Andy Beshear. Governor Matt Bevin has been a no-show the past two, but this year they're both coming.
Attorney General Beshear released a statement that he's excited to be back in western Kentucky where his family has deep roots, adding, "When I take the stage at Fancy Farm in August, I’ll be the only candidate for governor who is fighting to expand access to health care, supports our public schools and educators and actually cares about lifting up our working families. The challenges facing Kentucky are about right vs. wrong — and I bet the crowd will be able to tell the difference.”
Governor Bevin has not been shy about stating that the atmosphere leaves a bad taste in his mouth, but recently he too told us he's happy to return.
“I’ll come. I don’t' have anything against the Fancy Farm itself or the people running it. I have great respect for Mark and that whole team that are down there, I really do,” Bevin said. “But what it has become--we're better than this. We're better than this in America. It’s become symbolic of this divisive, nasty, screaming, yelling, and what's interesting people will come down and they'll scream and they'll yell and then they'll get back on their bus and leave. At least buy some mutton or some pork or some, you know, play some bingo, have some fun while you're down there.”
Mark Wilson did not want to offer up a take on the governor's critique.
“I don't comment about that. Everybody's got their opinions so I’m not going to critique any of them about what they say about Fancy Farm,” Wilson said. “My part is coordinator, so I just try to stick to that role. I mean, I don't opinionate on what their opinions are.”
Wilson says he's still waiting on confirmations from the attorney general candidates, Senators Paul and McConnell, who often confirm at the last minute, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, who is not running for office but has been invited.