Half a Million Dollar Ham

August 24, 2006- Louisville, KY- A record “Half a Million Dollars” was the selling price today for a 17.2 pound Kentucky State Fair Grand Champion Country Ham, produced by Broadbent’s B & B Foods of Cadiz, Kentucky. 

“Third time is definitely charm,” says company owner Ronny Drennan.  “This is the third year in a row for us to win.  Last year we broke the record with the ham selling for $340,000.00, but I never in my wildest dreams thought we would hit $500,000.00 this year.”  Total price per pound equaled $29,069.00. 

There were six bidders this year.  When the bid hit $425,000.00 Auctioneer Cliff-Ed Irwin, President of Kentucky Auctioneer Association, said “This beats the heck out of selling pots and pans for $3.00.”  When it hit $450,000.00 he said, “I might even get ask back next year.”  Just a few bids latter, Irwin announced sold for $500,000.00.  First Southern National Bank placed the winning bid.  A representative for First Southern National says the money will be donated to Crown Financial Ministries, a financial advisory ministry based on Christian principals. 

An early morning interviewer of a Louisville TV station, said to Drennan “You’ve won three times in a row, what’s your secret recipe?”  Drennan replied, “The recipe is no secret, the ingredients are on the package.  The amounts we use might be secret.  We do the same thing day in and day out.  It seems to be working.”   Broadbent hams are a long cure, all hams are at least six months old and preferable 9 months old before sold.  “We have run short a time or two after Christmas and had to sell hams not quite 9 months old, but that’s not the age I prefer,” says Drennan.  “The ham that won grand champion was put into cure after January 1, 2006.  It was close to my preferred age.”

“It was an honor to have Smith Broadbent, III at the breakfast with us this year.  This was the first time he attended since we bought the company in 1999,” says Drennan, “Smith started the winning tradition.  I inherited big shoes to fill; hopefully I’ve done a good job filling them.”  Sale of Broadbent hams at this charity auction now exceed One Million, to be exact $1,145,628.25.  Between the two owners Broadbent’s holds the record for 12 Grand Champion Hams.  Smith Broadbent, III company founder began interstate commerce in 1966 by mailing out the company’s first mail order catalog.  “Our 40th anniversary catalog will be mailed out in the next couple weeks.  I’ll be glad to send you a ham just like the one that sold today, for a much cheaper price,” says Drennan.  To receive the 40th anniversary catalog call 1-800-841-2202 or visit the company website at www.broadbenthams.com.  

2005 $340,000 Dollar Ham