60th Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast auction sells ham for $10.5 million

The 60th annual Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair set another record-breaking year after this year's ham was sold for $10.5 million.

Kelly Craft, former US ambassador to the United Nations, along with her husband Joe, placed the winning bid for the grand champion ham. Last year, the Crafts and Central Bank President and CEO Luther Deaton made joint $5 million bids, which totaled the ham being sold for $10 million.

Kelly Craft told a group of reporters that the proceeds from the auction will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs, which is a mental health initiative that works with young people from disadvantaged circumstances, and building homes for flood victims in Eastern Kentucky. She also said that the auction is an important day for the state because it promotes Kentucky's agriculture businesses and charities.

"I think this is all about the Kentucky Farm Bureau and all about the people that work so hard in our state to make today happen," Craft said. I love farm life, and my brother still farms. He has his farm, and there is nothing more important than to see young adults who have work ethic and to be able to appreciate the fact our farmland is the reason that our state is able to eat and thrive."

When asked what she does with the ham, Craft said she brings it back to the house for it to be thinly sliced and then saved for the family's Christmas meal.

The event began in 1964 as a way for the agriculture industry to drum up business and promote itself, with the price cut sold for $124. But now, the auction and breakfast attracts politicians, farmers and business leaders who go to the Kentucky State Fair.

Thursday, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell gave speeches the more than 1,600 people at the breakfast. McConnell talked about the importance of Kentucky's agriculture industry and passing a new Farm Bill at the federal level. Currently, the bill is stuck in limbo, and Congress voted to extend the current bill last November until Sep. 30.

He criticized Democrats and said when it comes to priorities, farming is "comes out pretty down low" on the party's list.

"Our friends on the other side have become very urban-oriented," McConnell said. "Frankly, not many Democratic elected officials lived in small town and rural America, and how that impacts an issue like this, they're just not particularly in it. "

McConnell also praised Shell for the work he has done as agriculture commissioner, saying he's demonstrated "good judgment" and understands the industry.

Shell touted experience on his family farm and how farming impacts Kentucky's economy.

"I'll tell you that when our rural areas of this state prosper, so does the overall economy in the state of Kentucky," Shell said. "We in Kentucky have a $8.1 billion impact for our farms and families and businesses that are the backbone of this commonwealth."

After this year's ham, the next five top-selling hams from the Kentucky Ham Auction are:

• 2023: $10 million, Joe and Kelly Craft, and Luther Deaton
• 2022: $5 million, Joe and Kelly Craft, and Luther Deaton
• 2021: $4.8 million, Central Bank and Kelly and Joe Craft
• 2014: $2 million, Republican Bank, Hermitage Bank Charities with Bridgeman Foods, Inc.
• 2010: $1.6 million, Republic Bank and Dr. Mark Lynn

More: These are the 10 most expensive hams sold at the Kentucky Stair Fair auction

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 60th Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast auction sells ham for $10.5 million