Generations of Champions

Ed Rice Sr. started curing country hams over 75 years ago in his backyard smokehouse. His son Ed Jr. took the business over in the early 1980’s. He ran the family business with his wife until 2003. During this time Rice’s Country Hams was featured on The Martha Stewart Show and Tennessee Crossroads. Ed Jr’s daughter Ginny and son-in-law Scott Dabbs now carry on the family business. In the 75 plus years the Rice family have been curing country hams, very little has changed. The hams are cured today the same way Ed Sr. cured them in 1950. That will never change.

“Mother Nature and Father Time,” plus years of experience, are credited for the 70 plus ribbons awarded to Rice’s Country Hams. Ribbons and winning are synonymous with Mt. Juliet’s Rice family, who have been bringing home trophies and ribbons from county and state fairs for over 60 years. With our family holding more titles than anyone in the state, Scott was asked to judge the future competitions. In 2021 Scott retired from competitions and is now the official ham show judge for the Tennessee State and Wilson County Fair. This is a great honor for him and our family.

Rice’s Country Ham Store is located in the heart of Mt. Juliet Tennessee. Stepping inside the wooden building is like stepping back in time. The aroma of country ham fills the air. The wooden floors squeak beneath your step while memorabilia along the walls tell the story of the family business. Visitors now purchase country ham, sausage, bacon, jams and jellies during the fall months of the year. In times past, this building served as a country store for the whole community. People today identify the Rice family and their products with this store, which was built in 1886. Rice’s Country Hams provide yesterdays quality in today’s fast paced world.