17 responses so far ↓

• 1 Gunti // Jul 23, 2008 at 6:24 pm

  Since I’m posh like that, I use T-Mobile, and I got good reception at Fancy Farm because my service picks up whatever service is available. No-one else, however, had any luck unless it was AT&T, and I’m not even sure about that.

  I can’t imagine Fancy Farm having wireless. It’s so not set up for that. Feasibly, a man could blog via email posting on a BlackBerry, or something along those lines.

  Is Fancy Farm worth it? I always get bored after a few hours. Everyone heads out after the big-dogs speak. The fish fry on Friday night is good, and if Comment on Kentucky is broadcasting live from there, it’s always fun to harass John David the Dyke because he always mumbles some robotic-sounding nonsense. His kid’s nice, though. The milkman must be his father.

  Are you a vegetarian? That’s a shame because you will never know the utter bliss of a Patti’s 2-inch pork chop. I eat there every year after Fancy Farm.

  http://www.pattis-settlement.com/

• 2 Um, Yeah... // Jul 23, 2008 at 7:52 pm

  Mmmmm… Patti’s.
  2 inch pork chops and mile high meringue pies.

• 3 Jeff // Jul 23, 2008 at 8:59 pm

  the Barbecue is good, too

• 4 Anthony // Jul 23, 2008 at 9:11 pm

  Fancy Farm is generally worthwhile. I went last year and suffered through the heat (stupid me wore black), and it was worth it. The food was excellent, and seeing the many, MANY segments of each party there represented was quite interesting. I’d say its worthwhile.

• 5 jake // Jul 23, 2008 at 9:13 pm

  I know FF is usually worthwhile. But I mean this year, specifically.

• 6 Ally // Jul 23, 2008 at 9:17 pm

  Patti’s is the best – I miss their pie!

  Maybe Paducah or Murray would have more “diverse” dining options?

• 7 Notmarknickolas // Jul 23, 2008 at 9:27 pm

  plus when else can you yell hideously vulgar things at elected officials and just be fitting in. The only bad thing is there are some people who act in bad taste (even for fancy farm) i remember last year when people were booing McConnell b/c he was apologizing that Elaine couldn’t make it b/c her mother had died. Rep. or Dem., that’s kind of sick to taunt him during that announcement.

  All in all though, a good time.

  btw, stay in Paducah, they have a wonderfully vibrant downtown.

• 8 Jeff Noble // Jul 23, 2008 at 10:13 pm

  Jacob –

  First, I am biased – I love the place, I’m Catholic, and after all it is a Catholic picnic (Saint Jerome Parish). Second, I’ve been going since I was teenager, missing a few years here and there.

  A lot has changed. It’s gotten louder and less civil, especially since 1995. They’ve also makde it less of an open-air mike and more coordinated, including bringing the whole speech-area under cover, which is good given that it is usually in the 90s and the only breeze is off of the barbecue pits.

  To his credit, in the years that Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr. is there, he is usually entertaining, even though he is on the other side. Last year was an exception – he was way off his usual game. It will be interesting to see how he does under pressure from Lunsford and Heather Ryan, who will be setting a few feet away. In my lifetime Wendell Ford was the best speaker.

  There is the tittilating factor that our candidate for president might stop in. That would be cool. I was there when Al Gore dropped in, literally from the sky by helicopter, sixteen years ago. I witnessed Scotty Baesler’s speech in 1998, later set to a Wagnerian score – more than a little over the top. Jack Conway got close last year.

  As for your vegetarianism, this is not the trip for you. The trip is all about food. Friday night is the Bean Soup Supper with Ham in Gilberstville along with the various house parties in the State Park, most of which have barbecue of some sort; Saturday morning brings a Country Ham Breakfast in Mayfield; Mutton, Pork, and Beef all day long in Fancy Farm. If you go to the meal in the KofC Hall, there will be lots of country style veggies, but they will probably be laced with ham or bacon.

  Going for the politics is part of it. The food is the main reason. Everyone should go once or twice. No one should make it a habit as I have. Unless you aren’t a vegetarian – I’m not. Damn good food. Food means, in this case, dead meat done up over flames with some barbecue sauce.

  JN

• 9 Robert // Jul 23, 2008 at 11:53 pm

  Go. Buy one of those silly Sprint cards they have in those commercials and blog it. Reading you guys at FF would totally worth my time.

• 10 Sportschix // Jul 24, 2008 at 2:55 am

  Jake, you have to go. There will be so much fodder to report. I will pack you a picnic basket full of healthy veggie fare! I am hooked on your site and need to read about FF from your point of view. Just promise us lots of attitude, sarcasm and insight!

• 11 Bimbeau // Jul 24, 2008 at 8:23 am

  Plenty of food alternatives in Murray. WiFi there as well. Load up during the day and download to your server in the evening when you return to the relative sanity of a literate community at Murray State – somewhere close to the Union or the Library.

• 12 Not My Birth Name // Jul 24, 2008 at 9:00 am

  I know exactly what Mitch McConnell ought to say to Heather Ryan: “Next time you have something to say to me, come up to me and say it to my face and don’t put your child up to doing your dirty work for you.”

• 13 Terri // Jul 24, 2008 at 9:28 am

  I want to go Saturday, if you want to carpool.

• 14 Judy // Jul 24, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  BirthName, Have you EVER tried to get though to McConnell? He doesn’t listen to his constituents, unless you have oodles of money. Period.

  We have tried for six years to get a response from McConnell about his never ending support for Bush’s invasion and occupation of Iraq. Nothing but form letters on any topic but the War. FF will be the closest he gets to the real folks of Ky. I’m sure he’s looking forward to it.

• 15 Anthony // Jul 24, 2008 at 1:48 pm

  Jake, there are plenty of vegetarian options in Murray for food, and it would probably be a lot easier to get around in than Paducah. E-mail me if you need a list of some good restaurants.

• 16 Phantom Scribe // Jul 24, 2008 at 3:39 pm

  McConnell won’t get very close to “the real folks of KY’ at Fancy Farm either. They will drive his SUV up as close to the stage as possible – just before the speaking begins. His staff people will surround him and try to line the walkway to shield him from the crowd. Soon after he speaks, he will slip off the back of the stage and be gone – with his staff shielding the pathway again – probably headed to a private fundraiser.

  If you actually want to speak to his greatness, you need to try to get in the Republican breakfast that morning – that would be your best bet.

• 17 The Tyler // Jul 24, 2008 at 5:06 pm

  If anyone is carpooling and going through Madisonville (with an extra seat), let me know. Gasoline is too expensive for me to go solo.

  I could also be persuaded to ride on the roof or in the trunk for space constraint/entertainment purposes.

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