Eric and Chris DeBerry founded the Spring Hill Country Ham Festival in 2004. They organized the event every year until 2010. In 2006, The DeBerrys worked with the Tennessee State Legislator to declare the first Saturday in October the official Country Ham Day in the State of Tennessee. The declaration was presented to the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The DeBerrys forged a grass-roots effort rallying local media and community supporters throughout the region growing the festival into an attraction that garnered attendance from all over Middle Tennessee.
During the time the DeBerrys served as the festival coordinators, they helped to raise more than $100,000 for local nonprofit organizations including The Tennessee Children’s Home.
In 2019, the festival was re-branded as The Whole Hog Festival that serves as the major fundraiser for The Well Outreach, Spring Hill’s community food pantry.
