Rocky Adkins

The 128th annual Fancy Farm picnic is scheduled for this Saturday, and legions of Kentucky's politicians and political junkies are headed to western Kentucky for the event's uniquely participatory political forum. With November's general election looming, some politicians have been hyping their speeches at the event for months, but the news that U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) may not be attending could put a damper on the potentially rowdy affair.

The Fancy Farm picnic - located in Fancy Farm, Kentucky - began as a bar-b-que and barn dance that has since morphed into one of the state's most important political traditions. Candidates for office in western Kentucky and those running statewide are expected to attend and speak before an audience of thousands notorious for rowdy heckling and theatrical behavior.

Legend has it that any politician not braving the crowd at the event will not be elected.

House Democrats expect to tap into a reliable base of financial support in eastern Kentucky tonight, when the House Democratic Caucus holds its first fundraiser of the 2008 election cycle in Prestonburg.

The Caucus’ Prestonburg event has served the organization well in recent years, according to Caucus director Jonathan Hurst.

“This is traditionally our best fundraiser,” said Hurst. “We always turn to eastern Kentucky to help us.”

Unlike many fundraisers, there is no required admission charge for tonight’s event at the Stonecrest Golf Club in Prestonburg. However, pre-arranged sponsors and a group of hosts with significant clout in the Commonwealth give the caucus high hopes for the evening.

“We haven’t set any goals, but it’ll be an extremely successful fundraiser for us,” said caucus director Jonathan Hurst.