[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                    RECOGNIZING BURGERS' SMOKEHOUSE

 Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, as a member of the Senate Committee 
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my privilege to recognize 
a family-owned small business that is dedicated to its customers, 
employees, and community. In honor of the U.S. Small Business 
Administration's National Small Business Week, it is my pleasure to 
name Burgers' Smokehouse of California, MO, as the Senate Small 
Business of the Day.
  Burgers' Smokehouse began in 1927 with E.M. Burger, a man who decided 
to use his mother's recipe to start curing hams for himself. Though 
this was a time with limited potential for a meat business, Burger sold 
six hams in his first year and then doubled to 12 hams in his second 
year. From there, E.M. Burger started employing the help of his family 
to grow his business to its official launch in 1952 when they opened 
their first ``Ham House'' in California, MO. This opening would lead 
them to become the first country cured meat company in the United 
States to receive Federal inspection just 4 years later in 1956 which 
allowed them to ship meat between State borders.
  Today, Burgers' Smokehouse is now operated by the third and fourth 
generation of the Burger family and has become one of the Nation's 
leading provider of cured meats. Burgers' Smokehouse now employs over 
200 people and operates two locations, the original ``Ham House'' in 
California, and a newly opened second facility in Springfield, MO. The 
company distributes over 12 million pounds of products each year and 
supplies restaurants such as Bob Evans, Cracker Barrel, and Waffle 
House. This success was not only due to the quality of their product, 
but also to the utilization of the latest technology. Burgers' 
Smokehouse has been recognized in several magazines and newspapers for 
the cutting-edge innovations used in their production and food safety 
processes.
  In addition to the excellence within Burgers' Smokehouse's walls, the 
Burger family is intentional about being excellent to those outside of 
their walls. Employees participate yearly in the Moniteau County Relay 
for Life. Burgers' Smokehouse has raised over $100,000 to help fight 
cancer through this effort. In 2006, Burgers' Smokehouse also sent care 
packages, which included some of their sandwiches, to U.S. soldiers 
overseas. Today, they still offer free shipping to anyone who will 
place an order to a military post. Aside from Burgers' Smokehouse's 
direct charity, the Burger family also set up a foundation under E.M. 
Burger's name, the founder of Burgers' Smokehouse. This foundation 
specializes in gifts to the arts and education and frequently gives 
grants to the Moniteau County school system.
  Burgers' Smokehouse embodies the traits of a true family-owned 
business. Armed only with his mother's recipe, E.M. Burger sold just 
six hams in his first year. Ninety-two years later, the third and 
fourth generations of the Burger family operate his legacy selling over 
600,000 hams a year to people all over the country. As a result of the 
hard work this family and their employees have put in, Burgers' 
Smokehouse has been the recipient of numerous awards and visited by 
President Eisenhower, Hank Williams, Jr., and Johnny Carson. It is my 
distinct pleasure to honor Burgers' Smokehouse as the Senate Small 
Business of the Day. You make Missouri proud, and I look forward to 
watching your continued growth and success.

                          ____________________