This Western Kentucky Smokehouse Made A Country Ham That Broke Auction Records, And You Can Taste It In Their Deli Sandwiches

Some people collect stamps, and some people collect blue ribbons for country ham. This Western Kentucky smokehouse clearly belongs in the second group.

Its prize ham drew a winning bid at a charity auction that made jaws drop across the state. You might expect a ham like that to live behind glass.

Instead, the same craft goes into the sandwiches at its own deli counter. That means you can taste champion quality without bidding against anyone.

The salty, smoky flavor comes from curing traditions that go back more than a century. Your nose might find the counter before your eyes do.

Order a sandwich and prepare to rethink every ham you have ever eaten. It also makes a perfect pit stop when you are cruising the interstate on an empty stomach.

Your road trip snack game is about to get a serious upgrade. Loosen your belt and let’s dig in.

A Ham Worth More Than Most Mansions Started Right Here

Ten and a half million dollars. That’s what a Grand Champion ham from Broadbent B & B Food Products fetched at the 2024 Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast and Charity Auction.

The winning bid beat the smokehouse’s own records from the two years before. In 2022, a Broadbent ham sold for $5 million, and in 2023 it hit $10 million.

Those numbers come from the auction held during the Kentucky State Fair. It’s a beloved tradition where bidders compete for the year’s top ham.

The money doesn’t stay with the buyer or the smokehouse, either.

Every dollar from those headline bids goes to charities. So that ham did a lot more good than any breakfast plate ever could.

I can’t think of a tastier way to raise money.

The trophy shelf is crowded, too. Broadbent’s has won 23 Grand Champion titles at the state fair ham competition since 1967.

On top of that, the American Association of Meat Processors named it National Grand Champion four separate times. That’s a lot of blue ribbons for one family of hams. Luckily, you can taste the winning style without bidding a single penny.

The full address is 257 Mary Blue Road, Kuttawa, Kentucky. That location makes it an easy detour, even on a tight schedule. You can fuel up the car and yourself in one stop.

The Story Stretches Back To A Trigg County Farm In 1909

Smith and Anna Broadbent started selling meat from their Trigg County farm in 1909. Back then, nobody was talking about million-dollar auctions.

They were just making good food for their neighbors in western Kentucky.

The business grew slowly and steadily through the generations. In 1965, Smith Broadbent II and his sons teamed up with the Bingham family to build a USDA facility.

That partnership gave the company its famous B & B name.

Ronny and Beth Drennan bought the business in 1999. They pushed it into wholesale, online, and mail-order sales.

The team grew from one employee to 25 under their care.

The Drennans also collected 15 Grand Champion titles at the state fair during their run. In 2008, they moved everything into one central facility in Kuttawa.

The company celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009.

Then came another big change in 2024. The Drennans retired, and Chef Joshua Poling of Bowling Green bought the smokehouse.

I like that a trained chef now carries this century-old tradition forward. Fresh ideas and old recipes can make a great team.

Salt, Smoke, And A Whole Lot Of Patience Go Into Every Ham

Fast food this is not. Broadbent B & B Food Products dry-cures its country hams the old way, following a method that’s been around for over a century.

Workers hand-rub each ham with a mix of salt, sugar, and sodium nitrate. Then the hams move through separate curing and salt equalization stages.

After that comes hickory smoke and a long, quiet rest.

How long? Anywhere from six months to two years.

That’s much longer than many big commercial operations wait. Some of these hams are older than your houseplants.

All that time builds a deep, salty flavor that country ham fans chase. The smokehouse makes no secret of the salt, either.

It’s part of what makes Kentucky country ham taste like itself.

Here’s a helpful tip for first-timers. Country ham is bold, so thin slices go a long way.

Try it on a biscuit, tucked into eggs, or tossed with pasta.

The heritage collection also has a special source. As of 2024, it uses pork only from Lazy Red Wattle Ranch and Newman Berkshire Farm.

That’s careful work from farm to smokehouse.

Your Lunch Order Just Got A Lot More Interesting

Sweet & Sassy is the name, and it earns it. This deli sandwich stacks Broadbent’s Boiled Country Ham with sweet and tangy mustard on Sister Shubert Rolls.

Hickory-smoked cheddar adds a smoky punch. Crisp apple slices and lettuce bring a little crunch and freshness.

Salty, sweet, and tangy all show up in the same bite.

This is where the title promise comes true. The Broadbent Gourmet Market and Deli lets you taste the award-winning ham right on-site.

No auction paddle required.

The menu goes beyond country ham, too. You’ll also find sandwiches built with city ham, smoked turkey, chicken salad, and smoked bologna.

That last one feels like a proper Kentucky lunch move.

Sandwiches usually come with pretzels or kettle-cooked chips. Potato salad is available as a swap if you want something creamier.

It’s a simple, satisfying setup for a road trip break.

My advice? If it’s your first stop, start with the country ham.

That’s the flavor behind all those ribbons. You can always grab a second sandwich for the road, and I wouldn’t judge.

Bacon Fans, Meet Your New Favorite BLT

Garden & Gun Magazine once called Broadbent’s bacon the Best Breakfast Bacon in the South. That’s a bold title in a region that takes breakfast very seriously.

So it makes sense that bacon gets the spotlight on the deli menu. Broadbent’s Award-Winning Pepper Bacon BLT piles that peppery bacon high.

Colby cheese, lettuce, and tomato join the party.

Then come sweet dillie pickles and spicy mayo for a little kick. You can pick sourdough or wheat-berry bread.

It’s the kind of BLT that makes plain versions look a bit sleepy.

The bacon lineup at the market goes deep. There’s hickory-smoked bacon, pepper bacon, applewood smoked bacon, and heritage bacon.

Each one brings its own personality to the skillet.

Sausage lovers have something special waiting, too. The smoked sausage follows Grandma Broadbent’s long-standing secret recipe.

That’s a family legacy you can fry up at home.

A quick kitchen tip helps here. Dry-cured bacon is rich, so a couple of slices can go far.

Cook it low and slow for the best results. Your pan, and your patience, will thank you.

Blue Ribbons Make Better Decor Than Wallpaper

Ribbons hang in the gift shop like a family photo album. Each one tells a story about a ham that beat the best in the state.

The market itself carries a rustic, farm-style look. It’s a fitting backdrop for rows of cured meats.

You get the sense that tradition matters here, and the room shows it.

Shelves hold far more than ham and bacon. Kentucky Proud products include jams, jellies, and natural vegetables.

Sweet tooth? Derby Pie and Pecan Pie are on the list too.

Charcuterie options round things out nicely. They make it easy to build a snack board with a true Kentucky accent.

That’s a fun upgrade for any family gathering.

The shop also works great for gift hunting. Country ham, smoked sausage, and local treats make thoughtful presents for food lovers.

Holidays sneak up fast, after all.

The building is USDA inspected, which tells you the smokehouse runs right on-site. You’re shopping close to where the magic actually happens.

I like knowing my snack didn’t travel farther than I did. That’s a rare treat at a highway stop.

Road Trippers Will Love How Easy This Stop Is

Exit 40 on Interstate 24 is your magic number. Broadbent B & B Food Products sits right behind the Hucks Travel Center in Kuttawa.

Truck drivers and travelers both find their way here. The spot sits close to the interstate, so it won’t eat up your whole afternoon.

A quick sandwich break feels well earned after hours of highway.

Timing matters, though. The market and deli open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday hours are seasonal, so check before you plan a weekend visit.

Showing up late on a Friday could mean missing out. Nobody wants to gaze sadly at a locked smokehouse door.

Plan your drive so you arrive during business hours.

One more tip: pack a cooler if you’re heading home. Bacon, sausage, and ham make great souvenirs.

They’re a lot more delicious than a keychain, too.

Lakes, Trails, And Wide Open Skies Are Just Down The Road

Picnic plans just got a serious upgrade. Kuttawa sits along the route many travelers take toward Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

That massive stretch of land offers forests, shoreline, and plenty of outdoor fun. Grabbing sandwiches before you head out is a smart move.

A cooler full of country ham beats gas station snacks any day.

Western Kentucky has a relaxed pace that suits a lake trip. Long drives, quiet water, and big skies all fit together nicely.

Good food makes that kind of day even better.

Here’s a practical idea for families. Pick up deli sandwiches and chips, then pack them for a lunch outdoors.

Kids get a fun meal, and grown-ups skip the drive-thru line.

Campers can stock up too. Smoked sausage and bacon cook up beautifully over a campfire skillet.

Breakfast by the water hits differently with real hickory flavor.

Just remember the market keeps weekday hours, with seasonal Saturdays. A Friday stop on your way in could work perfectly.

Then your whole weekend gets a smoky, savory head start. That’s what I call planning ahead.

Kentucky Ham Traditions Stay Alive With A Little Help

Teenagers learning to cure ham might not sound like a typical after-school activity. Broadbent B & B Food Products works with 4-H students to keep that craft going.

Country ham curing is an art passed down by hand and by patience. Teaching young people keeps the skill from fading away.

I believe that might be the smokehouse’s most important work.

The company is also part of Kentucky’s Country Ham Trail. That trail celebrates the state’s food heritage and the people behind it.

Broadbent’s fits right in with over a century of curing behind it.

Shipping keeps the tradition traveling, too. The smokehouse sends its products across the United States.

Kentucky natives living far away can still taste home.

That reach matters for folks who miss Southern breakfasts. A package of country ham can make a kitchen in another state smell like Grandma’s.

Food has a way of carrying memories.

Whether you stop for lunch or order for the holidays, you’re part of a long story. It started on a Trigg County farm in 1909.

It keeps going, one slice at a time.