1. All Those Redneck Stereotypes

A man holds an American flag

Source: Flickr User macabrephotographer

Most Americans assume that Kentucky is full rednecks that drive around in big trucks flying the confederate flag off the back. Kentuckians might enjoy relaxing on the family farm or chowing down on hearty country-style food from time to time, but for the most part, these misconceptions about the residents of state are wildly inaccurate.

2. Whiskey That Isn’t Bourbon

A woman at a bourbon factory

Source: Flickr User valkryieh116

After Kentuckians perfected whiskey, they decided that they would never settle for less. If you’re in the Bluegrass State, only locally made bourbon will do.

3. Waiting For The Start Of Hunting Season

Two men in hunting camo

Source: Flickr User John Beagle

The start of hunting season in Kentucky might as well be declared a state holiday. People tend to call in sick to work and skip school in attempt to bag their first big buck every year.

4. Imitations Of A Real Mint Julep

A cat drinks from a straw

Source: Flickr User jthetzel

Known for being the drink of the Kentucky Derby, the traditional mint julep has four ingredients, bourbon, water, sugar, and a mint leaf, and it has to be muddled to release the delicious flavors of the mint. Anything else just won’t do.

5. Explaining What A Hot Brown Is

A hot brown

Source: Flickr User Phil Denton

Created at Louisville’s Brown Hotel, a “hot brown” is an open-faced sandwich topped with turkey and bacon before being covered in Mornay sauce and then baked. Sometimes it’s also topped with cheese and tomatoes. Yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds.

6. Allergies

A bloodshot eye

Source: Flickr User theapoc

There’s no way around it, Kentucky is one of the worst places for allergies in the world. All that wheezing and inflammation is what consistently gets Louisville the top spot on the list worst big cities for allergies in the country.

7. Hunting Down Ale-8 Out Of State

A woman holds an Ale 8

Source: Flickr User klndonnelly

Kentucky’s favorite non-alcoholic beverage, this regional citrus and ginger flavored soda is truly addictive. Unfortunately, the rest of the nation doesn’t know what they’re missing out on yet due to a tiny distribution radius. If a Kentuckian has a long trip ahead of them, it’s probably best they pack a six pack in their bag.

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8. Explaining How To Pronounce Louisville To Outsiders

A sign of different Louisville pronunciations

Source: Flickr User quinn.anya (cropped)

No matter what a non-local says, they’re probably wrong when it comes to pronouncing this city’s name. Whatever you call it though, Louisville is still the same awesome place.

9. Picking A Favorite Burgoo

A play of Burgoo

Source: Flickr User aufumy

A favorite when it comes to local dishes, everyone that’s making burgoo has their own unique recipe. Kentuckians know that it’s best to just enjoy them all instead of trying to compare and contrast the different varieties.

10. Mediocre Fried Chicken

A man eats a chicken wing

Source: Flickr User The Sporkful

There’s a reason that the word “Kentucky” tends to get thrown in front of “fried chicken” a lot. Kentucky has the best deep fried food in America, including the fried chicken. Every Kentuckian has their own favorite local place to get it and none of them are wrong.

11. Hiding The Bitter Instate Rivalry

Two guys in rival baseball hats

Source: Flickr User LouisvilleUSACE (cropped)

While the streets around Kentuckian could be more cordial if everyone was willing to just love all of the Kentuckian teams, there will always be a battle brewing between Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals fans.

12. Those Kentucky Derby Crowds

Kentucky racehorses

Source: Flickr User boboroshi

This might seem surprisingly, but a lot of the crowd at the Kentucky Derby is actually made up of tourists. Most locals would rather avoid the massive crowds and go to the Kentucky Oaks the Friday before the big race instead.

13. Wild Turkey Attacks

A turkey

Source: Flickr User CarbonNYC [in SF!]

One of the states where wild turkeys actually roam the countryside, these birds often come with a very aggressive attitude. It’s not like all Kentuckians are out fighting turkeys every day, but wild turkeys are something that everyone around here, especially in rural areas, tends to treat with a healthy level respect.

14. Anything But Basketball

A teen plays basketball with his dad

Source: Flickr User theGadgetMom

From elementary school to high school to college, the sports world in Kentucky is all about basketball. People might play other sports, but shooting hoops will always be the top dog around these parts.

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15. Justifying Moonshine To Outsiders

A man holds a jar of moonshine

Source: Flickr User MonkeySimon

While most Americans would just laugh if you offered them moonshine, Kentuckians are always down to try what the neighbors brewing up. It’s not always made dangerously by hillbillies in the woods and it’s actually pretty tasty, just shut up and drink it already.

16. Convincing Outsiders That Mutton Is Safe To Eat

A plate of BBQ ribs

Source: Flickr User joannpoe

A popular protein in this state, most Americans probably don’t even know what animal mutton comes from. Its meat from an adult sheep and it’s delicious when barbecued. Expect visitors to be a bit tentative when a plate of this gets put in front of them—until they take the first bite.

17. Bluegrass Haters

A bluegrass band

Source: Flickr User jordan klein

Full of rings and twangs, bluegrass music provides the heartbeat for a perfect sun-filled summer outdoors in this state. While all Kentuckians aren’t driving around blasting this music through their speakers, it’s hard not to feel the good vibes when a live bluegrass band takes the stage at an outdoor show.

18. Searching For Grass That’s Actually Blue

A man lies on a football field

Source: Flickr User speedoguy45

Known for being a soft grass that’s great for lawns in parks and gardens, Kentucky bluegrass isn’t actually blue. It’s known by this name for the flowers that start popping up when this grass reaches its natural height of a couple feet. Most Kentucky bluegrass tends to get trimmed up well before reaching that point.

19. Serious Traffic

A little boy in a go-kart

Source: Flickr User Tim Evanson

With the exception of Louisville, traffic in Kentucky isn’t really that bad. The only thing that really slows you down significantly here is getting caught behind a tractor in a rural area.

20. Tiny Yard Sales

A yard sale sign

Source: Flickr User .Great Grandpa & Grandma T.

When Kentuckians see the puny single home yard sales in other states, they can’t help but to chuckle. After all, their state is known for the 400-Mile Yard Sale, an annual four-day event that stretches for hours down Highway 68.

21. Driving All The Way To An Ocean In Search Of Water

A boy skips a stone on a lake

Source: Flickr User Egan Snow

Kentuckians don’t have time to drive all the way to the ocean to dip their toes in a little sand. Not only does that take hours, they’ve got all the water they need in their own backyard. A state that’s got plenty of awesome lakes and rivers, it’s easy to get wet in Kentucky.

22. The Wacky Midwest Weather

People at an event in the rain

Source: Flickr User Spider.Dog

Home to the infamously temperamental Midwest weather, skies in Kentucky can be sunny one second and raining down sleet the next. That’s why every Kentuckian knows to fill their trunk with essentials for any type of weather that might hit year-round.

23. Explaining Why Kentucky Is An Awesome Place To Be

A man wears an I Heart Kentucky shirt

Source: Flickr User allaboutgeorge (cropped)

Most Americans might just consider Kentucky a flyover state, but it’s so much more than that. It’s full of awesome food, world-class events, and some of the most genuine people around. It’s even got a diverse mix of small towns and big cities. Kentucky truly has something for everyone and that’s why it’s so darn awesome.
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