FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 16, 2021
Contact: Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Hunter’s Bar-B-Q of Albany, Kentucky, as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week.
Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:
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, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.
On Hunter Shearer’s thirteenth 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 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.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.
You can find out more about Hunter’s Bar-B-Q on their website HERE.
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