Amid politicos and athletes, Central Bank and the Crafts again buy country ham for $10M

LOUISVILLE — In what’s become a tradition for them, Republican megadonors Joe and Kelly Craft joined Central Bank in buying a country ham for $10 million. 

At the end of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast on Thursday, attendees have a chance to bid on the Kentucky State Fair Grand Champion Country Ham, though the Crafts and Central Bank have outbid everyone else for a few years. The breakfast typically brings together Kentucky politicians with farmers from across the state. 

Malachi Moreno, a center for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, made bids for the Crafts, who are long-time sports boosters for both UK basketball and football. UK basketball coach Mark Pope also sat at their table.

The money from the auction will go to organizations  around Kentucky, including the Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County, the FFA chapters in Barren and Glasgow counties, University of Kentucky Athletics, Keeneland, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, The Hope Center and more, the Farm Bureau said.

However, it turns out the “bidding” is more like a year-long pledge.

In a Facebook post, Central Bank said individuals and companies “enter ‘bids’ on the ham based on the amount of their existing charitable giving for that year.”

“These are not additional funds being used to purchase the ham, the bid represents the amount Central Bank and the Craft’s have already pledged to charity in 2026,” the bank said.

Kelly Craft, a former U.S. ambassador, said her family plans to get the ham sliced thin and serve it with biscuits to share with others. This year’s winning ham was produced by Tim Berry of Clifty Farm Country Meats in Scottsville and weighs 16.7 pounds. 

Craft, who previously ran for governor in 2023, said she is planning to work to elect more Republicans next year when asked if she is considering another foray into politics. 

“As you’ve heard today, our legislators have made the state a huge success in our farming and  our agri industry. So that is what Mr. Craft and I — that’s what our goal is,” she said. 

Asked about candidates she might support, Craft said she was looking forward to “working really, really hard to elect Jamie Comer governor.” 

Comer, Kentucky’s 1st District congressman, was at the breakfast, as well as Democratic candidates for governor — Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Rocky Adkins, a former adviser to Gov. Andy Beshear. Even though Louisville isn’t in the 6th Congressional District, both the Republican nominee, Ralph Alvarado, and Democratic nominee, Zach Dembo, attended as well.

While Comer is currently seeking reelection for his U.S. House seat, he has been a speculated candidate for governor, and received numerous public endorsements from Republicans already. During his remarks at the breakfast, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell referred to Comer as “Governor Comer” before correcting himself when listing guests he brought. 

Comer told reporters he was honored to have the support so far, noting that “the entire slate of constitutional officers, except for lieutenant governor, have all expressed their support for me.”

“We’re going to make a decision very soon. There’ll be an announcement probably a week after the November election,” Comer said. “But I will tell you this: everything looks good. I think the people of Kentucky are ready to go in a different direction, and I look forward to traveling the state.