Kelly and Joe Craft, Central Bank bid $10M for Kentucky State Fair ham

Kelly and Joe Craft, alongside Central Bank, placed a combined winning bid of $10 million for the Kentucky State Fair Grand Champion Country Ham during the 62nd annual Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast and Charity Auction.

The proceeds from the auction will be split equally, with $5 million from the Crafts and $5 million from Central Bank directed toward various Kentucky charitable causes. The Crafts’ contribution is designated for the new Guilfoil Recreation Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County and FFA chapters in Barren and Glasgow counties. Central Bank’s donation will support several organizations, including the University of Kentucky Athletics, Markey Cancer Center, Gatton College of Business & Economics, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Transylvania University, and the University of Kentucky Med Center.

The Grand Champion Country Ham, which weighed 16.7 pounds, was produced by Tim Berry of Clifty Farm Country Meats in Scottsville, Kentucky. This marks the fifth consecutive year the Crafts and Central Bank have joined forces for this auction, matching their $10 million joint bid from 2025.