64th Annual Ham, Bacon & Egg Show

It was a record-setting night at the 64th Annual West Virginia FFA Ham, Bacon & Egg Show, held March 11-12, 2007 in Charleston.  The state's top country-cured hams and bacon and prize eggs were selected on Sunday, March 11 and remained on display until auction time on Monday evening, March 12.  Prior to Monday's sale, Gov. Joe Manchin III hosted a reception for buyers.  The sale for all products totaled $46,464 - the second highest state sale total ever!

The Grand Champion Ham, exhibited by Jason Grubb, Marion County FFA, was purchased by R. G. Gunnoe Farms, LLC for $2,300.  The Reserve Champion Ham was prepared by Chelsea Kuhn, from the Hundred FFA, and purchased by Gunnoe Sausage Company for $1,470. 

Phillip Dennison, Pine Grove FFA, had the Grand Champion Bacon.  The bacon brought a record price, purchased by Kroger Mid-Atlantic for $6400.  Hundred's Matt Cecil had the Reserve Champion Bacon, which sold for $2,000.  Empire Food was the buyer.

The Grand Champion Eggs also set a record, bringing five times the previous record.  The eggs were exhibited by Kim Riley of the Cameron FFA.  The eggs sold for $10,000 and were purchased by Kroger Mid-Atlantic.  Brandon Ruble, from Cabell Midland FFA, sold the Reserve Champion Eggs for $1,500 to Kroger Mid-Atlantic.  (Brandon's eggs are pictured with fellow member Cassandra Morgan.)

The show is sponsored annually by the Governor's Office, Resource Marketing , Inc., Carhartt, Inc., the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia Department of Education.  Special thanks goes to the Kroger Company, Tasty Blend Foods of Teays Valley and the West Virginia Pork Producers for providing refreshments for the auction participants.