A first-time buyer has stepped forward with the winning bid for this year’s Kentucky State Fair grand champion country ham. The ham is auctioned at the annual Kentucky Farm Bureau ham breakfast, with the proceeds—and the ham—donated to charity.
This year’s top bidder was the Yum Brands Foundation, the charitable arm of the Louisville-based fast food company. Proceeds from the 350-thousand dollar sale will go to the Fund for the Arts.
Fund President Barbara Sexton Smith says the money will be used to boost an existing collaboration with the Yum Brands Foundation.
“The Yum Family Series is something that makes it possible for children to get to go hear the Louisville Orchestra perform, go to Stage One Family Theater performances and experience the arts in the classroom. So we’re looking very forward to that.” --Barbara Sexton Smith
The 350-thousand dollar top bid is not a record but among the ten highest in the sale’s 50 year history. This year’s grand champion country ham was produced by Harper’s Country Hams of Clinton, Kentucky. It will be donated to the Dare to Care Food Bank.