I got to rank #1 by collecting information from my characters on other words and setting up a list of all of the stuff I needed to collect for any future quests and basically collected everything I needed leaving me with a huge pile of XP from completing whole quest chains at once.
I guess there is some luck involved though, I got the ham on my first try I wasnt so lucky on World 2 when looking for it.
Heh...well lucky for me I got the inside scoop on some things ham wise though took me one try. (psst, go for 2hours it helps) and also got all my stupid tobacco...and a broken wine bottle to boot ^_^ Not really luck just depends on the skills you got I suppose.
I've completed two other quests since taking the Ham and still can't get one. I pray, I go in at 100%, I go in fully rested ... I flew up to level 6 and now I'm stuck there because this little piggy won't come to market