A fewweeksago,wecelebratedthearrivalofthehumblepigintheNewWorldandthe origins of American Country Ham,tracingbackto1587whenSirWalterRaleigh’sfirstsettlerslandedatRoanokeIslandontheOuterBanksofNorthCarolina.WetippedourhatstoThomasJefferson,GeorgeWashington,andtheartisansofMonticelloandMountVernonwhohelpedelevateCountryHamtotherealmoffinecuisine.
Butitwasn’tthestatesmenandgentrywhoperfectedtheartofcuring.ThatdistinctionbelongstothehardyfamiliesoftheBlueRidgeMountainsofAppalachia,wheregenerationsofpioneersbuiltlogcabinsandcarvedfarmsfromwilderness.Thesesettlerspreservedporkusingtime-honoredmethods—salting,air-curing,andpatience—creatingadelicacythatcouldwithstandharshwintersandleanyears.
DuringProhibition,thesesamemountaincraftsmenturnedtheirskillstoanewcraft.Theyfermentedcornmashinwoodenbarrels,distilleditincopperstills,andhauledmoonshinethroughthebackroads—alwaysonestepaheadoftheFederal “Revenuers.”
Thateragaverisetofastcarsandfasterdrivers,asmoonshinersmodifiedtheirvehiclestooutrunthelawalongtwistingmountainroutes—especiallytheonethatbecamelegendaryasThunderRoad.FromthosedaringrunscamethebirthofstockcarracingandNASCAR, along the samemountain roadswhereRays CountryHamisstillcuredtoday.
Everygreatstorydeservesapunchline—andourscomescourtesyofRayGoadSr.,whomadeCountryHamhislife’swork.Raywasn’tjustapioneerinthekitchen;hewasatrailblazerinbusiness.HeintroducedthefirstCountryHamandSausageBiscuitinafastfoodrestaurant—andhewasthefirsttoconvincetheKingofNASCAR,RichardPetty,tostarintelevisioncommercialsforRays.Thejinglesaiditbest:
“Thefasteryougo,themoreyouneedRays”
So,asyousavoryourSundaymorningsliceofRays CountryHam,remember:you’renotjustenjoyingaSoutherntradition—you’retastingAmericanhistory.Handeddownthroughgenerations.Perfectedbypioneers.Celebratedbylegends—onthetrackandatthetable.
Untilnexttime,youcanbeaHerotoo—bykeepingthetraditionalive.Andmayeachmorningbringbackthecomfortofafamiliarkitchen,thescentofsomethingslow-cooked,andthequietprideofcarryingonwhatcamebefore.
Warm Regards,
