NASHVILLE, TN— The two Tennessee State Fair Grand Champion Hams were sold at auction before a crowd of more than 500 during the 2nd Annual Tennessee State Fair Future Farmers of America (FFA) Ham Breakfast.
The country and packing house trim style hams were purchased for $4,500 and $4,400, respectively. At an average of $240/lb., the hams held up to the title of Tennessee State Fair Grand Champion.
The first winning bid for what is described as a country style trim ham was placed by Jack Stites of Cookeville, owner of J&S Construction. The ham weighed in at over 21 pounds and was entered in the State Fair competition by David Bolden of Lynnville.
The second ham was a 16 pound packing house trim style ham and was sold to Farm Credit Mid-America, an annual supporter of the Tennessee FFA Foundation. The ham was entered by Betsa Bolden of Lynnville, wife of country ham Grand Champion David Bolden.
The event raised more than $35,000 for the Tennessee FFA Foundation, which gives scholarships and awards to the organization’s 14,000 members enrolled in high school agricultural education. Proceeds from the $30 per plate breakfast and the two hams that were auctioned will help fund a number of programs that serve the organization's youth membership, according to event organizer Chelsea Rose, Tennessee FFA Foundation Executive Director.
Jeff Aiken, President of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, was the keynote speaker for the breakfast and Jimmy Tosh, CEO and Owner of Tosh Farms, served as breakfast chair. The hams were auctioned by F&M Bank President and CEO Sammy Stuard. Major sponsors of the event were AT&T, Lee Company, State Senator Mark Green, the Tennessee State Fair Association, and Tosh Farms.
The 3rd Annual Tennessee State Fair FFA Ham Breakfast is scheduled for September 11, 2017.
(Photo caption: The State Fair Grand Champion Hams were auctioned during the Second Annual Tennessee State Fair FFA Ham Breakfast held at the Fairgrounds Nashville. The Country Ham purchased by Jack Stites of Cookeville fetched $4,500; the Packing House Trim Ham was purchased by Farm Credit Mid-America for $4,400. 1st Row L to R: Scott Jones, State Fair; Jack Stites, J&S Construction; Jai Templeton, Department of Agriculture; Mark Wilson, Farm Credit Mid-America; Matt Neal, Farm Credit Mid-America; Dick Poe, Farm Credit Mid-America; Sammy Stuard, auctioneer; 2nd Row: Jack Swanson, Farm Credit Mid-America; Rachel Davis, Farm Credit Mid-America; Scott Lewis, Farm Credit Mid-America; John Rose, State Fair; Chelsea Rose, FFA)