The list of speakers that will take the stage at this year’s Fancy Farm Picnic in far western Kentucky is firming up with just weeks to go before the annual event.
An update released Friday confirmed that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear will not be at Saint Jerome Church on Aug. 3. Beshear, a rumored vice presidential nominee if President Joe Biden isn't at the top of the Democratic ticket, has attended Fancy Farm just once as sitting governor.
New speakers added to the list include Democratic U.S. congressional candidate Erin Marshall. She’ll likely trade jabs with her opponent Republican U.S. Congressman James Comer, who has already confirmed he’ll attend.
Chase Oliver, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. president, was also added to the slate of speakers.
Invitations to Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, the Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and Republican U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are still pending.
Kentucky’s Republican State Treasurer Mark Metcalf is now also expected to attend.
Jason Shea Fleming, a candidate for a Kentucky Court of Appeals post, is now also confirmed to speak.
Other speakers already confirmed for this year's picnic include the following:
- Kentucky’s Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman
- Kentucky’s Republican Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell
- Kentucky State Sen. Jason Howell, a Murray Republican
- Outgoing Kentucky State Rep. Richard Heath, a Mayfield Republican
- Representative Elect Kim Holloway
- GOP Kentucky State Rep. Suzanne Miles of Owensboro
- Democratic Kentucky State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson of Lexington
- Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Payne Jones