Fancy Farm, Kentucky
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fancy Farm is an unincorporated community in Graves County, Kentucky, United States, about ten miles west of the county seat, Mayfield on Kentucky Route 80, in the rural western portion of the state called the Jackson Purchase. Fancy Farm was settled by Roman Catholics starting in 1829, and is known for its strong Catholic community. The community grew around St. Jerome Church, built in 1836. The first post office opened in 1843.[1] The colorful name was apparently chosen when the post office opened, by a man who was applying to be postmaster.[2]
The village is the site of the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, famous as a traditional political gathering attracting statewide and occasionally national candidates. The picnic began in 1880 as a purely local affair, but gradually became an important speech-making opportunity for Kentucky politicians. It takes place mostly on the grounds of Fancy Farm Elementary School. Since 1956 it has been held on the first Saturday in August. It has come to represent the traditional starting point of the fall campaign season in Kentucky.[3]
So many Kentucky politicians attend that it tends to only be news when a major politician decides not to make an appearance, such as senator Jim Bunning in 2007. National figures that have made speeches include George C. Wallace and Al Gore.[4]
In addition to the political appearances, the picnic offers traditional fair activities like bingo games and raffle prizes.[5] Food includes barbecue, a Knights of Columbus fish fry and homemade baked goods.
The event was recognized in the 1985 Guinness Book of World Records as the "World's Largest Picnic", for the consumption of 15,000 pounds of mutton, pork, and chicken at the 1982 picnic.[6]
The picnic is profitable and proceeds are used to finance local improvements. No outside vendors participate, and about 12,000 to 15,000 people attend each year.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Fancy Farm, Kentucky. Kentucky Atlas and Gazetteer. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ The History of St. Jerome Perish. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ Schreiner, Bruce. "Bunning: Fancy Farm picnic 'out of control'", The Courier-Journal, 2007-07-17.
- ^ Local legacies: Fancy Farm Picnic. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Kentucky. Ed. Kleber, John E.. 308.
- ^ Mayfield: Pearl of the Purchase. Kentucky Living. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ Beardsley, Elizabeth. "Big guns missing, but Fancy Farm will roll on", The Courier-Journal, 2006-08-03.
[edit] External links
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