A Ham Sold for $2 Million at the State Fair, No Really

A decent market ham will set you back about 60 bucks. A showcase ham can go for hundreds or thousands. However, a plump piece of pork sold recently for $2 million at the Kentucky State Fair. No, it wasn’t lined with jewels.

Country hams are typically dry-cured. This means that moisture is drawn out of the meat until at least 18 percent of the water is lost, and usually as much as 20 to 25 percent. The hams must be aged from six months to a full year before they are ready to eat.

Every year at the Kentucky Fair, Miss Kentucky walks around the room showcasing the ham for potential buyers.

The winners of the auction were Hermitage Farm LLC and Republic Bank. Possibly because the two competing bidders were so close, the $2 million will be divided among the two parties and donated the money to their choice of charities. In a 50-year tradition, proceeds from the ham auctions at the state fair typically went towards some form of charity or cause. So essentially a charity auction.

The Kentucky State Fair has been known for setting ham-based records, however. On average, a cured ham sells for almost half a million dollars at the fair, which is also incredibly impressive. No clue why this year’s ham was more appealing than the previous years’. Hey, as long as it’s for charity, right?

H/T First We Feast