Thousands of people packed historic Oaklawn Mansion in Spring Hill on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the 21st annual Whole Hog Festival. The event came as The Well Outreach, the food pantry that hosts the fundraiser, reported its highest monthly service total ever.
The organization served 2,700 families in a single month, a record in its 20-year history, according to the Williamson Herald. Six years ago, The Well served about 200 families per month. It now estimates it will serve more than 28,000 families through its Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant pantries this year.
The festival, presented by title sponsor John Maher Builders, debuted a new pitmasters tasting experience this year. Eight regional and national barbecue pitmasters competed in a whole hog cookoff, and attendees voted in a people's choice tasting award.
The day's contests drew big crowds.
Jose Karnes won the bacon-eating contest, Shelly Sassen, CEO of The Well Outreach, announced on Instagram. The festival also featured its popular hog-calling competition and a worship hour with The Belonging Co. Worship Team.
Dottie Raleigh, a returning vendor who sells crocheted stuffed animals and embellished baseball hats through her business Sugar That Stitches, said the contests keep families coming back.
"I think the bacon eating contest and the hog call contest are hilarious," Raleigh told the Williamson Herald.
Pranee Hickman, a first-time attendee working a booth for United Communications, said she was glad to learn about The Well Outreach's mission while at the event. A regional craft fair featured up to 40 vendors alongside food trucks.
The festival began 21 years ago as the Country Ham Festival before becoming an exclusive fundraiser for The Well Outreach and adopting its current name in 2019. Sassen has said attendance grew from about 500 in the festival's early years to more than 5,000 last year. The Well Outreach's website called this year's event "a wonderful success."
More than 200 volunteers were expected to staff the event alongside about 30 Well Outreach employees, the Herald reported. The Well operates food pantries in Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant, where families choose their own groceries through an open-shop model.
The organization estimates it will serve more than 28,000 families this year. Residents interested in volunteering or donating can visit thewelloutreach.org.
