With the Senate race for Mitch McConnell's seat uncompetitive, energy at the 2026 Fancy Farm Picnic was focused on KY gubernatorial candidates.

Before politicians and their supporters descend on the rural western Kentucky community, volunteers put in long hours preparing.

The tale is as American as they come: a family, ravaged by the throes of poverty, has no moves left, so they turn to desperate measures. A mother buys her child a satin dancin’ dress, hands them a heart-shaped locket, and sends them out into a world of ...