[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 72 (Monday, May 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DAN AND JAN SMOOTS

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I rise today during national small 
business week to honor and recognize Dan and Jan Smoots of Emporia, KS. 
The Smoots were recently announced as the Small Business 
Administration's Small Business Persons of the Year for Kansas, and 
once you hear why, it is clear to see they are more than deserving of 
the award.
  The Smoots' business, Fanestil Meats, was recognized in part for 
surviving multiple flood disasters on the Cottonwood River. Their 
facility's foundation is just south of Emporia in the flood plain, 
making it susceptible to flooding any given year. Yet, through the 
hurdles, the Smoots persevered to keep their business running. Of 
course, the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a whole new set of challenges 
for the Smoots, but once again, they trekked along. With 100 employees 
to take care of, along with unprecedented supply chain disruptions, 
they had to be resourceful through this new challenge. Thankfully, 
Fanestil Meats was able to secure a loan through the Paycheck 
Protection Program, which the Smoots say was instrumental in keeping 
the business afloat throughout the pandemic.
  Moving forward, Fanestil Meats is now constructing a new 40,000-
square-foot meat-processing facility that will replace the original 
plant and help expand the worldwide reach of their beloved product, the 
Party Time Ham. The new facility is located adjacent to the cold 
storage warehouse, retail store, and administrative offices that were 
constructed in 2015 in Emporia, KS.
  This award is truly an honor that everyone at Fanestil should be 
proud of. The Smoots have worked long and hard to expand and improve 
this business since they took over in 1997, which is no small task. 
Yet, thanks in part to the Smoots' ownership, Fanestil continues to 
rise to the occasion and prosper, even when faced with adversity. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dan and Jan Smoots for their 
dedication to their business and for representing Kansas greatly.

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