DECATUR BARBECUE SPECIAL -- On a quiet August morning, before a single ray of sun graced the sky, a group of prominent Decatur business leaders and local residents gathered at Decatur City Park to begin the process of cooking chicken halves over an open fire pit. This would be the beginning of a 64-year tradition that defined the small town of Decatur.
The 64th Annual Decatur Barbecue will bring hundreds of visitors to Veterans Park in Decatur August 5 for good food and a wide variety of entertainment that is sure to please people of all ages.
In 1951, the town suffered a serious setback when the local poultry processing plant, one of the main sources of commerce and employment in Decatur, closed its doors and relocated to another town. The effect of this closure caused the town's population to drop significantly as workers were forced to find other sources of employment. The town was in the midst of a death roll when a group of prominent Decatur businessmen, with the assistance of Lloyd Peterson, stepped in and brought the town back to life with a new poultry processing plant, a bank and several supporting businesses.
So, in June of 1953, the Decatur Development Committee, with Peterson's backing, decided to throw a shindig complete with food, drink, entertainment, a tiny tot contest and even a beauty pageant. This was the committee's way to thank the citizens of Decatur for their support of the town through this crisis and a way for Peterson to also thank his employees for a job well done. This was the first Decatur Homecoming Barbecue.
One year later, the town of Decatur was chosen by the Municipal League and "Look" and was given the 1954 All America City Award for the best small town under 1,000. A rousing speech by David Compton, a Decatur Chamber of Commerce member, sealed the deal for Decatur. That year, the Decatur Barbecue began in earnest.
The whole town was featured on the cover of the February 1955 issue of Look Magazine. It shows the entire population (or most of it) standing at the corner of Roller Avenue and Main Street looking toward the depot.
Sixty-four years later, Decatur still enjoys the bounties that Peterson and the Decatur Development Committee (changed into the Decatur Chamber of Commerce in 1954) built for this thriving community.
The Decatur Chamber of Commerce still carries the torch well into the 21st century. While holding with the tradition of good chicken (something the community is known for), exciting entertainment and pageantry, the chamber decided to add a few new events to this year's festivities.
The August 5 Decatur Barbecue kicks off the day of fun with the 5K, 10K and Fun Runs, starting and finishing in the parking area next to the Edmiston Park concession stand. All three events include athletes of all ages, some completing the distance run, some just walking the slower one-mile course. The event begins at 7 a.m., rain or shine.
Kids always have fun competing in the three-legged race and the bean-bag toss. A tradition that faded away in more recent years was the frog and turtle race. This event was the mainstay for the kids' games for more than 30 years. Sandy Duncan, kids' games organizer, encourages kids to bring their frogs and turtles and enter them in this year's event in the hope of reviving this long-standing tradition.
The Decatur Chamber will begin serving chicken dinners at 10 a.m. at the chicken shack at Veterans Park. The cost for the dinners is $7.
Back by popular demand is the car show, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and concludes with the awards ceremony at 3 p.m.
The chamber added two new events to the Barbecue this year. A softball tournament, which will be in session throughout the day at Edmiston softball field -- first game begins at 8 a.m.
The second event is a Frisbee (disc) golf demonstration near the stage at Veterans Park. Frisbee golf is a rising sport in America today. Courses are springing up all over the country. In 2016, the city of Decatur added a nine-hole disc golf course at Veterans Park, joining Gravette, Gentry and Siloam Springs courses. Mike Stout, course designer and member of 59 Flyers, will conduct the demonstration, which begins at 10 a.m.
The opening ceremony begins at noon on the stage at Veterans Park. Dakota McCarthy will sing the National Anthem, followed by the prayer given by Justin White, pastor of the Decatur First Baptist Church. The Decatur High School girls' track team will be honored for winning the 2017 1A State Track Championship. The boys' track team will also be honored for its second-place finish at the same meet.
The Decatur Barbecue Parade, another popular event, will take place at 1:30 p.m., starting on the corner of Third Street and south Main Street. From there the parade will pass through downtown Decatur and end at Veterans Park. The theme for this year's parade is "Bulldog Proud, Decatur Proud" and will also honor Bulldog sports, youth sports and youth soccer sports programs. Lineup for the parade begins at 1 p.m. near the tennis courts on Pool Street.
This year's grand marshal for the parade will be long-time Decatur resident Bill Montgomery. Montgomery is the former mayor of Decatur and a current member of the city council and planning and zoning commission.
One of the changes in the Barbecue this year is the afternoon sessions. The entertainment will begin at 3:30 p.m. with local Decatur music artist Carter Beggs, and Johnny Dale Roberts at 5 p.m.
The Tiny Tots and casual wear portion of the Miss Decatur Barbecue begins earlier than in years past. Tiny Tots contest will start at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Miss Decatur Barbecue at 5 p.m., with the formal wear and crowning ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
The day will conclude with the featured musical group, the Reeves Brothers, at 7 p.m., followed by an encore by all three entertainers at 9 p.m.
For more information on any portion of the 2017 Decatur Barbecue, call 479-752-3912.
General News on 08/02/2017