Well known and accomplished Trigg County farmer and businessman Smith Broadbent, III died Tuesday at the age of 83.
Broadbent was an Army veteran, a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a farmer in Trigg County for over five decades.
An obituary from Goodwin Funeral Home lists his accomplishments and contributions, including serving as a director of the Trigg County Farmers Bank for 43 years. He was Trigg County Outstanding Young Man in 1967, Kentucky Outstanding Young Farmer Member of the Year in 1970, and in 1971 he was Cattleman of the Year for Kentucky and went on to become among the top 10 in the nation. He received the UK college of Agriculture Extension Leadership Award in 1977 and the Kentucky Farm Bureau Distinguished and Dedicated Service to KY Agriculture award which is a state recognition in 1985.
He has been awarded the Spirit of the Ham Festival twice, he was inducted into the UK College of Agriculture Hall of Fame, and given the UK College of Agriculture Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2016 received the Trigg County Friend of Agriculture Award.
He established and developed Broadbent Square, bringing important new businesses and employment to the county.
He began curing hams for retail in 1963 and Broadbent B & B country hams have gone on to win Grand Champion Honors at the Kentucky State Fair more than any other Kentucky ham producer. In support of the Ham Festival and to help gain publicity for the event, in 1985 he designed a 7,000-pound oven in order to cook the world’s largest country ham and biscuit.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, three daughters and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Goodwin Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Wall Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the service hour.