For those of you who are new to town, the Blackman Barbecue has been a tradition for 69-years. This year's event is from 5:00 to 8:00 Friday evening, June 22, 2018 at The Grove at Williamson Place, 3250 Wilkinson Pike, across from The Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro (directly off of Medical Center Pkwy).

The Blackman Barbecue was conceived by the Blackman Community Club in 1949 to raise funds for a clubhouse and grounds. Over time the event has grown and the community center has flourished as a place for community meetings, family reunions and for children to play. Over the decades, it has grown into a community-wide event.

Club President Tammy Sandlin said, "All proceeds go towards the building and ground maintenance, playground improvements, scholarship fund and several other community service projects we have throughout the year."

2nd Year at The Grove at Williamson Place

Back in 2012, the annual event had to move because it had outgrown the site of the Blackman Community Center on Blackman Road.

In fact, its popularity has exploded more and that's why last year it moved to The Grove at Williamson Place. In reality, with that move, it's "back home in spirit", because The Grove is the brainchild of Blackman's favorite son farmer--John L. Batey and the Williamson family.

Wherelse but The Grove could your family pick strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, as well as enjoy fields of giant sunflowers--just across the street from one of the south's finest and largest shopping developments.

Batey chuckled and said, "Real fun with family and friends...that's what the Blackman Barbecue is all about."


Wilburn Is Alive and Well

John is an agricultural entrepreneur who has marketed his pork to area restaurants and groceries, not to mention siring the famous Wilbur The Pig for the 2006 movie "Charlotte's Web". By the way, Wilbur is doing fine in retirement, but instead of being that cuddly cute porker--he now weighs in at 700 pounds.

On a recent visit to WGNS' Truman Jones Show, Brandon Whitt said, "We dont let Wilbur know about that barbecue pork business." Off-mic he whispered,"Wilbur fans around the nation staged a protest back in 2006, when John L. stated in an off-the-cuff press conference that growing Wilbur, although famous, would likely one day go to market."

It worked, because a dozen years later, Wilbur is living the life of luxury in retirement at Batey Farms.

John L. noted, "Wilbur has a realy fancy for buttermilk."

Batey grinned and said, "You could never have convinced me that some day I would have a pig that was twelve years old. But then, Wilbur isn't a pig--he's a movie star!"

Blackman Community Club

The club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm for pot luck and 7:00pm begins the business meeting and occasionally an educational speaker. You can visit blackmancommunityclub.com for more details about how to become a member.

For more information, contact Blackman Community Club President Tammy Sandlin at 615-400-2254 or e-mail her at blackmanclubpresident@gmail.com.