23-07-2025
KET revives Fancy Farm coverage, thanks to donation
Kentucky Educational Television has revived its plans to cover the annual Fancy Farm political rally on Aug. 2 in Western Kentucky.
Shae Hopkins, executive director and CEO of KET, said in a press release a donation from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will make the coverage possible.
'We're grateful to the Kentucky Chamber, a longtime corporate partner and supporter of KET, for helping us to continue this decades-long tradition of bringing viewers across the state coverage of this iconic event,' Hopkins said.
The release did not disclose the specific donation amount. Earlier this summer, Fancy Farm organizers announced Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts would emcee the event.
KET previously said it planned to eliminate its coverage of Fancy Farm because of federal funding cuts. A rescission bill that stripped $9 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting, global health initiatives and foreign aid programs was given final passage July 17.
Fancy Farm is a political picnic and rally held each summer in Graves County, where candidates and elected officials take jabs at their opponents before an often rowdy audience.
The bipartisan event has become more Republican-heavy in recent years as Democrats have lost significant ground in the state. This year, picnic-goers can expect to hear from all three high-profile Republicans running to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell: U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris.
On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and state Rep. Pamela Stevenson, who is also running to replace McConnell, have declined to speak. The only confirmed Democratic speaker so far is John "Drew" Williams, who is challenging U.S. Rep. James Comer in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District race.
KET will livestream coverage beginning at 2:30/1:30 pm CT Aug. 2 with host Renee Shaw and analysts Bob Babbage and Trey Grayson. The station will air highlights from the event at 8/7 p.m. Aug. 3.
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: KET revives Fancy Farm coverage, thanks to donation
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