Joe, Kelly Craft pay $10.5 million for auction ham with Mark Pope, Oscar Tshiebwe, Vince Marrow watching on

The Crafts are known as major donors around the bluegrass, including for the University of Kentucky. They’ve shown that generosity again earlier this morning while surrounded by several other notable Wildcats.

The 60th Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast and Charity Auction took place this morning at the Kentucky State Fair. During that event, which a group of blue and white members were in attendance, Joe and Kelly Craft purchased the 18.2-pound prize ham for $10.5 million. They then took photos with it with the likes of Mark Pope and his wife, Vince Marrow, and Oscar Tshiebwe.

Two football players, who each were transfer additions, were also present in RB Chip Trayanum and OL Gerald Mincey.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Crafts have taken home the prize ham at the breakfast. They did so after reportedly outbidding Luther Deaton, the Chairman/President and CEO of Central Bank. With their winning bid, they set the new record for it after previously setting it last year at $10 million. In total, they’ve now spent over $30 million on these hams.

All the proceeds do go to a charity of the winner’s choice though.

This comes a week before the athletic year really begins at Kentucky. Marrow, Trayanum, and Mincey will be part of the kickoff to football season next weekend when the Wildcats open against Southern Miss. For Pope, his first year at his alma mater will begin soon when his new team returns from a break after summer workouts in Lexington.

As for Tshiebwe, he is in town for an appearance at the Reed Sheppard Fantasy Experience at Rupp Arena today and tomorrow. He will be a guest speaker at the event, specifically on Faith Day on Friday.

Kentucky Basketball unveils full conference schedule for 2024-25

The Southeastern Conference revealed their full conference slate for the 2024-2025 season in college basketball earlier this week, including the one for Kentucky.

Check out the Wildcats’ full conference schedule below as the anticipation for their first season under Mark Pope continues to grow.

Jan. 4 – Florida
Jan. 7 – at Georgia
Jan. 11 – at Mississippi State
Jan. 14/15 – Texas A&M
Jan. 18 – Alabama
Jan. 25 – at Vanderbilt
Jan. 28 – at Tennessee
Feb. 1 – Arkansas
Feb. 4/5 – at Ole Miss
Feb. 8 – South Carolina
Feb. 11/12 – Tennessee
Feb. 15 – at Texas
Feb. 18/19 – Vanderbilt
Feb. 22 – at Alabama
Feb. 25/26 – at Oklahoma
Mar. 1 – Auburn
Mar. 4/5 – LSU
Mar. 8 – at Missouri