[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1978-S1979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING HUNTER'S BAR-B-Q

 Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I will 
recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the 
American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to 
recognize a family-owned small business and southern Kentucky staple, 
Hunter's Bar-B-Q of Albany, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week.
  On Hunter Shearer's 13th birthday, when other boys wanted skateboards 
or baseball gloves, Shearer asked for a new Weber gas grill. From that 
point on, he was cooking for family and friends every chance he could. 
As a welder, Shearer built his own mobile grill and smoker, which he 
used to cook at family and church events. He first sold barbeque to the 
public in 2009, at the 127 Yard Sale. Seeing a business opportunity, 
Shearer decided to pursue his boyhood dream of owning a restaurant. In 
2012, Hunter began working with his father-in-law Mike Duvall to 
convert an old service station into a restaurant. Sixteen months later, 
Hunter's Bar-B-Q welcomed its first customers in 2014.
  In 2021, Hunter's Bar-B-Q continues to serve up some of the best BBQ 
in southern Kentucky, and folks drive from all over the State to enjoy 
their signature hickory smoked meat and family-friendly hospitality. 
Hunter's care and attention to detail are evident in every aspect of 
his restaurant and catering business. At the restaurant, everything is 
made from scratch, from handmade picnic tables and cooking equipment to 
the smoke shack, pits, and charcoal makers. Even the charcoal is made 
on site, using hickory wood from local sawmills.
  Locally, Hunter's Bar-B-Q is known as ``the place with the big 
flag.'' It

[[Page S1979]]

boasts a 25 by 40-foot American flag atop a 100-foot flagpole almost as 
big as the store. Thanks to the smokers and pits, Hunter's Bar-B-Q can 
feed around 3,000 people a day. The pulled pork and sliced shoulder are 
favorites, attracting customers from all over the country. Catering is 
also a large part of the business, with Hunter's Bar-B-Q catering 
events as far away as Louisville.
  Together with his wife, Shannon, Hunter seeks to give back to their 
community in any way possible. Locally, Hunter's Bar-B-Q sponsors 
Little League and high school sports teams. They regularly support 
community organizations, including sponsoring Project Graduation, the 
All for Benny Fundraiser, and the American Cancer Society's Relay for 
Life. Additionally, Hunter's Bar-B-Q has supported numerous fundraisers 
that have covered emergency and medical expenses for local members of 
the community. Hunter's Bar-B-Q is a proud member of the Albany/Clinton 
County Chamber of Commerce. Notably, Hunter's Bar-B-Q is one of two 
caterers designated by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department 
to provide food for events in Clinton County, Kentucky.
  Hunter's Bar-B-Q is a remarkable example of how hard work, ingenuity, 
and discipline can turn a childhood dream into reality. Small 
businesses like Hunter's Bar-B-Q form the heart of communities across 
Kentucky, regularly stepping up to support their communities. 
Congratulations to Hunter, Shannon, and the entire team at Hunter's 
Bar-B-Q. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching 
their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

                          ____________________