Another Broadbent state fair champion country ham raises $10M for charities

The dynasty continued for western Kentucky's Broadbent Country Hams at the 61st annual breakfast and charity auction at the Kentucky State Fair.

This year's Grand Champion country ham was a 16.5 pound winner produced by Josh Poling of Broadbent’s Country Hams in Kuttawa. It's the fourth straight year for a Broadbent ham to be crowned.

On Thursday morning, the annual charity breakfast and auction was held. Kelly and Joe Craft and Central Bank, combined their bids to each donate $5 million, bringing the total winning bid to $10 million. 
 
Both the Crafts and Central Bank combined their bids in 2023 for the ham too.

Over the past 56 years, the charity auction has raised over $50.5 million in charity funds. According to Broadbent Farms, their long line of Grand Champion hams have added up to $48.6 million of that total.

In 1967 The Cadiz Record reported that a Broadbent country ham first won the Kentucky State Fair Grand Champion award, during the third year for the contest and auction. It sold for $247.50 at auction, and the proceeds were donated to the Kosair Children’s Hospital.

Proceeds from this year's ham auction will go to 22 charities statewide.