Grand Champion Ham fetches near-record amount at Kentucky State Fair auction

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The 61st annual Country Ham Breakfast and Auction at the Kentucky State Fair brought politicians and traditions together Thursday morning.

Joe and Kelly Craft with Central Bank placed the winning bid of $10 million -- just shy of their record-shattering $10.5 million bid in 2024. The Crafts were out of town but sent their representative, Jennifer Barber of Frost Brown Todd, to bid on their behalf. They will each donate $5 million to charities in Kentucky.

"Kelly and Joe Craft would like to thank Kentucky Farm Bureau for hosting this wonderful event again this year," Barber said in the release. "They hope their charitable contributions will help improve the lives of Kentuckians across the Commonwealth. This year’s $5 million donation will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County Craft Innovation Campus, the Craft Academy at Morehead State University, and building houses in Eastern Kentucky through the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises."

Central Bank’s $5 million bid will be distributed to a variety of Kentucky charities, continuing its legacy of philanthropic giving. Beneficiaries are expected to include:

University of Kentucky Athletics
Markey Cancer Center
Gatton College of Business & Economics
University of Kentucky Alumni Association
Transylvania University
University of Kentucky Med Center
BMW Academy
Keeneland
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Northern Kentucky University Athletics
Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky
The Brighton Center
Kentucky Derby Museum
Louisville City Stadium
Eastern Kentucky University and EKU Athletics
Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE)
Kit Carson Commons of Richmond
Georgetown College
Asbury University
The Hope Center
Revolving Affordable Housing Fund
Child Advocacy Center

Each year, the ham breakfast showcases the best of Kentucky agriculture and features the charity auction of the fair's Grand Champion Ham.

This year's Grand Champion country ham weighs in at 16.5 pounds, and took a year to cure. It was produced by Josh Poling of Broadbent’s Country Hams in Kuttawa, Ky., according to a news release from Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau, the breakfast is the largest farm-city event in Kentucky and gives farm families and other attendees the opportunity to hear from elected officials and Kentucky Farm Bureau leadership.

Breakfast Chair Kyle Kelly said three commercial exhibitors competed in this year's event, and an outside judge chose the winner from more than 1,000 entries.

This year also marks the 26th year that Miss Kentucky has carried the Grand Champion Ham into the breakfast.

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is among the Kentucky politicians attending the breakfast along with Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.

Including this year, the auction has raised nearly $54 million for local charities since the breakfast began in 1964. The first Grand Champion Ham sold for $124.

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