03-08-2025
Who had the best zingers? Here's a round up from Fancy Farm
FANCY FARM, Ky. — The 145th annual Fancy Farm Picnic wasn't short on BBQ — or political zingers.
The event drew its typical rowdiness as politicians gave short speeches on a stage, with supporters of three high-profile Republican candidates running to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell packing the crowd.
All of this year's lineup of speakers came from the GOP, save for John "Drew" Williams, who's announced a bid against U.S. Rep. James Comer.
Here are some of the zingers that were dished out out.
Emcee Ashli Watts
Watts, president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, is the first woman emcee in Fancy Farm history.
She wasted no time making wisecracks about that fact.
"I am the first woman to emcee the picnic in 145 years, which I guess makes me the official Fancy Farm DEI hire," Watts said.
She also poked fun at the "solicited and unsolicited advice" she received when preparing for her monologue.
"I just want to take a moment to thank all the men out there who gave me so much unsolicited advice," Watts said. "Truly, nothing gets you ready for the job like having political jokes mansplained to you."
Watts also joked about McConnell's retirement as he sat on stage.
"Democrats are panicking about losing their second favorite person to blame, Republicans are pancking about losing their first favorite person to blame, and C-SPAN is panicking about losing its most consistent source of dramatic pauses," she said.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell
McConnell didn't focus on the typical zingers during his speech.
Instead, he focused on policy, mentioning a recent visit with President Donald Trump where the pair talked about the decision to bomb Iran.
"I told him he made the right call," McConnell said. "This is how you restore peace through strength. America is stronger and safer with Republicans in charge in Washington."
McConnell was also quick to criticize former President Joe Biden and his administration.
"The Biden DOJ went undercover to intimidate Catholics, and crazy climate change rules made a tough job tougher for all the Grave County farmers," he said.
Congressional candidate John "Drew" Williams
Williams, the Democrat running to unseat Comer, had one consistent message to Western Kentucky voters: He brings service to the community.
"For the last six years, I've been building a community from the ground level," Williams said. "I've been listening to people's needs without political power. I even helped serve the Fancy Farm Picnic today."
While Williams focused on his community work, he also criticized Comer, saying "he's not like us."
"Western Kentuckians don't like big money politics or career politicians, or people who had to move to gain communities in Frankfort so far away, they had to redraw the district," Williams said.
U.S. Rep. James Comer
Comer, who represents Western Kentucky in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District, partly touted his prominent position as chairman of the House Oversight Committee during his speech.
"I love this environment," Comer said. "It's like a regular House Oversight Committee meeting."
Most of Comer's speech consisted of criticizing Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's lack of attendance and the media.
"But now, (the media) is on one of its newest false narratives, and that is Andy Beshear is popular in rural areas," Comer said. "Some of you are writing that Andy Beshear can help deliver rural America in 2028. Well, y'all obviously didn't grow up in rural Kentucky."
Senate candidate Daniel Cameron
While U.S. Senate candidate Cameron emphasized in the beginning of his speech that he would support President Donald Trump's America First Agenda, he also used his time to critize opponents Andy Barr and Nate Morris.
"Andy Barr wants you to think he's America First, but it's hard to believe him when he voted with Nancy Pelosi 1,200 times," said Cameron, a former Kentucky attorney general and CEO of the 1792 Exchange.
In regard to Morris, Cameron specifically called out the businessman's work dealings.
"(Morris) talks tough about deporting illegals, but the only thing he's ever sent across the border is his business," he said. "You can't stand up for American workers when the only experience you've had is firing them."
Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Andy Barr
Barr made sure to tout his current position represening Kentucky's 6th Congressional District while campaigning for U.S. Senate, but that didn't stop him from taking a couple jabs at Cameron and Morris.
"Nate calls himself the trash man, but dumpster fire is more like it," Barr said.
He later referrenced Cameron's loss to Beshear in the 2023 gubernatorial race
"I'd say anyone can beat (Beshear), but I wouldn't want to offend Daniel Cameron," Barr said. "Good to see you Daniel, I think we're going to keep the tradition alive of Andys beating Daniels."
Senate candidate Nate Morris
Morris' speech partly focused on criticizing McConnell — something he's consistently done as part of his campaign.
"Why is it that you all get defensive when I talk about a man who is a year older than Biden, just as mentally compromised and holds the same positions as Biden on amnesty, Ukraine funding and hating Trump?" Morris said.
He also called Barr and Cameron "McConnell boys."
"Andy and Daniel, you know, today might be the perfect day to break some real news. … Perhaps you could both show us the seat of your britches so we can finally understand exactly where Mitch's hand goes in," Morris said.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@ or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fancy Farm 2025: Best zingers from Kentucky's political picnic
