Ditch Mitch KY

More Picnicking in Western Kentucky

Terri Whitehouse August 6th, 2007

If you didn’t get your fill of delicious food and fiery political conversation at Fancy Farm, there’s still a chance to belly-up at O’bryan’s in West Louisville, KY. O’bryan’s is playing host to the second annual Red, White, & Blue Picnic, the successor to the picnic formerly held at Red’s in Sorgho.

Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer’s Owen Covington reports (no link; subscription only):

For decades, politicians followed up a weekend at Fancy Farm in western Kentucky with a stop at Red’s Fish House of the South in Sorgho, where Thomas “Red” Saltsman hosted a political picnic with free food and speeches.

O’Bryan’s owner Jamie Murphy estimated that the first year of the Red, White & Blue picnic drew about 900 people with candidates for U.S. Congress as well as state and local office taking their turns on stage.

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O’Bryan’s will be cooking more than 400 chickens to provide the free dinner for the event, which is sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Daviess County Democratic and Republican parties.

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This year features all state constitutional offices on the ballot, with a contested gubernatorial battle between incumbent Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Steve Beshear.

Fletcher has said he will be in West Louisville for today’s event, and Beshear running mate Dan Mongiardo of Hazard, who currently serves in the state Senate, will represent the Beshear camp, according to the chamber.

As some know, Red’s hosted its own picnic for nearly 50 years, the last one being held in 2004. Owner Red Saltsman died in 2005, and the restaurant closed in 2006. Red’s place was sold earlier this year. With 900 people showing for the Red, White, & Blue Picnic’s inaugural year, O’Bryan’s seems poised to be every bit as treasured as its predecessor.