Ed Rice Sr. started curing country hams over 60 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 60 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 numerous 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 30 years. This past year was no exception.
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.
