Jeff Wiggins, Area Council president, will emcee the event. "Hopefully, State Rep. J.R. Gray of Benton, State senate candidate Dennis Null of Mayfield and other labor-endorsed candidates will speak," he said.

Wiggins has been dropping by to watch artists paint the mural. "I don't want to say exactly what it looks like. I want it to be a surprise. But I am sure everybody will be pleased. It is a wonderful tribute to organized labor in our area."

The council approved and paid for the $12,500 artwork in 2002. The mural will be near the new Four Rivers Performing Arts Center. “We think that will be a great place for visibility,” Wiggins said.

“With the victory of Dorsey Ridley on July 27, we've got some momentum going," Wiggins said. "Fancy Farm and Labor Day are good times to keep it up."

Ridley, a labor-endorsed Democrat from Henderson won a special election for Paul Herron's state senate seat. Herron, a veteran Democratic lawmaker also from Henderson, died June 16.

Ridley, who had strong union support, defeated David Thomason, a Democrat-turned-Republican. "Mitch McConnell and Ernie Fletcher did all they could to elect Thomason but failed," Wiggins said. "Ridley won big. That shows what labor can do when we work hard."

The Fancy Farm picnic is the opening round of the fall campaign in Kentucky. "Many of our labor-endorsed candidates will be speaking," Wiggins said. "We need to be there and show them our support."

Wiggins also said he is excited about support for John Kerry, the labor-endorsed Democrat for president, in western Kentucky. "I know people who voted for Bush last time who are voting for Kerry.

"Look at all the jobs we are losing because of Bush's policies. General Tire is closing in Mayfield, where Ingersoll-Rand closed. People are starting to wake up."

Wiggins is a Steelworker. His union is printing "Outsource Bush" bumperstickers. "I've been seeing a lot of them on cars and trucks lately," he said. "I expect to see more at Fancy Farm and on Labor Day."

Wiggins also is hoping for a strong union presence at the annual Labor Day parade and picnic in Paducah. "Many of our candidates will be in the parade and speaking at Carson Park afterwards," he said.

The parade through downtown starts at 10 a.m. Political speaking and barbecue -- both spicy hot -- follow in the afternoon.

The Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee, a non-profit volunteer group, puts on the parade and a weekend of festivities, which include a flea market and live music. Frances Willey is president of the committee.