Walk into Porky Butts BBQ in northwest Omaha on any given day and you can smell what matters before you see it. Wood smoke with intention. Ribs that speak for themselves. Brisket that took its sweet time getting here. Behind the line is a pitmaster who understands that BBQ is more than craft. It is a responsibility. A way of taking care of people. A way of giving back.
Some people go a lifetime without doing what they love for a living. ~ Blane Hunter
For Blane Hunter, that line rings true every single day.
The Heart Behind the Smoke
Blane grew up in south Texas where meat, fire, and community were part of the same ritual. His dad raised money for inner city kids by selling BBQ plates. His mother in law fed the homeless every weekend. Food was the family’s currency of compassion. Feed people first. Think about yourself later. Repeat until it becomes muscle memory.
What my dad would do is sell BBQ plates and raise money, and that’s kind of what started the whole passion for BBQ. ~ Blane Hunter
Those early lessons became the backbone of Porky Butts BBQ. Long before the trophies, long before the perfect scores, long before the lines around the building. Impact came first.
BBQ With Purpose
During the pandemic, while most of the world faced uncertainty, Porky Butts BBQ did what they always do. They showed up. Quietly. Consistently. With meals packed for first responders, nurses, physicians, and anyone on the front lines who needed a reminder that the city had not forgotten them.
After my mother-in-law and dad passed away, we just wanted to make sure we kept giving back to the community. ~ Blane Hunter
He never did it for headlines or recognition. He did it because it was the right thing to do.
Veterans Day: A Small Thank You to the Country’s Bravest
Every November, long before the doors open, the line starts to form. Veterans. Families. Men and women who have carried this country through wars, deployments, and decades of sacrifice. They line up around the block for a free meal.
It is one of Porky Butts BBQ’s proudest traditions, and one Blane approaches with the seriousness of someone who bleeds red, white, and blue. It is a small gesture, he says, for everything these men and women have given.
A Thanksgiving Tradition Born From Gratitude
Thanksgiving at Porky Butts BBQ looks nothing like Thanksgiving anywhere else. While Omaha gathers around dining tables, Blane and Dana roll up their sleeves and step into the smoke. No staff is asked to join them. No pit crew is called in. This day belongs to the family.
The whole family comes in, and we cook the traditional dinner for first responders, fire, all the people who serve the community. ~ Blane Hunter
The firehouses know it. The police officers know it. The medical crews know it. They line up because someone in Omaha is thinking about them on a day when many feel forgotten.
“This is really nice,” said police officer Keith Lampert, standing in the dining room between calls. “You miss out on family get-togethers, lunch, dinner, whatever. Being in this job, you realize that going into it.”
You miss out on family get-togethers, lunch, dinner, whatever. Being in this job, you realize that going into it. ~ Officer Keith Lampert
Last year, the room was packed. One firefighter joked it was “the safest place in Omaha.” No one disagreed.
But Blane is not doing it for jokes or gratitude.
“It makes me feel better knowing we helped someone out, kept someone’s belly full, put a smile on their face through some smoked turkey.”
That is the work he looks forward to all year.
The Pitmaster Behind It All
Blane is more than Omaha’s top pitmaster. He is one of the most decorated competitors in American BBQ history. More than 130 competitions. Dozens of perfect scores. National titles. American Royal championships. King of the Smoker wins. Team of the Year honors.
He could hang his hat on the accolades, and no one would blame him. But he never has.
Because when you strip away the smoke, the trophies, and the applause, one truth remains. He is in this to serve people.
And that is why Porky Butts serves up Omaha's Best BBQ.
Why Omaha Loves Porky Butts
- The food is world-class.
- The consistency is relentless.
- The portions feel like Texas.
- And the purpose behind every plate is real.
Omaha does not just eat at Porky Butts. Omaha believes in Porky Butts. Because the Hunter family has given the city a reason to.
A Legacy Measured Beyond Smoke
As good as Blane Hunter is at BBQ, and with a world championship resume to prove it, people will remember him even more for what he gives back to the community. That might be the hardest thing to imagine. In a world that celebrates medals, trophies, and perfect scores, Blane’s real legacy lives in the meals handed to first responders on a cold holiday morning, the veterans lined around the block with plates in hand, and the quiet deliveries no one ever hears about. Long after the smoke fades and the trophies gather dust, the impact he has made on Omaha in the last 5 years will outlast every brisket he has ever served.
