Updated at 9:55 a.m.:
The Republican Party of Kentucky has confirmed that Senator Mitch McConnell will attend Fancy Farm. In a news release, McConnell challenged his most high-profile Democratic opponent, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, to attend the event in western Kentucky as well.
Original post:
So far, the count of prominent speakers for the 133rd annual Fancy Farm Picnicon the 3rd of next month is... one. Organizers say the first statewide elected official to accept an invitation to speak is Attorney General Jack Conway.
The AG's expected by many to run for Governor in 2015, but has been a regular at the picnic in recent years anyway. The event has historically been, since 1880, the place where Kentucky candidates kick off campaigns. Speaking organizer Mark Wilson says dozens of invitations are out, and he expects the avalanche of responses to start rolling in soon, for the event that's coming up fast-- now just 2 weeks from Saturday. He looks for plenty of excitement this year and next, as Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell now has a challenger in Democratic
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. They've both been invited, along with Senator Rand Paul, the rest of the Congressional delegation, the Governor, the Ag Commissioner... all the state constitutional officers, along with many legislators, and local officials.
Politics is the big draw for most, but there's more to do there too. The picnic's a fundraiser for St. Jerome Parish. It typically draws about 10,000 people and generates nearly $250,000 for the church every year, through sales of picnic food, a vehicle raffle, and bingo. Learn more about Fancy Farm here.