Less than two weeks ago, Tyson food executives, officials in Tonganoxie and Leavenworth counties in Kansas and Gov. Sam Brownback revealed a $320-million plan to develop “a chicken hatchery, feed mill, meatpacking plant and 300 to 400 poultry grow houses,” reports the Topeka Capital-Journal. By Monday, 2,400 residents, including many ranchers, had gathered in the streets to protest the chicken plant, cheering a sign held by a 4-year-old: “No Tyson! No friggin’ chickens! No kidding!”
With mounting protests, Leavenworth County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday to rescind a “resolution of intent” that pledged $500 million in revenue bonds for the facility, the paper said in a followup report. By Tuesday, Tyson froze plans for the massive chicken complex and said it would seek a new location.
“We’re cattle producers,” said Tonganoxie resident Josh Reischman, the father of the boy with the protest sign, according to the paper. “This plant is going to be within two miles of our home. The feed mill is going to be at the end of our driveway. We’re for agriculture, but we’re not for industrial agriculture.”
The paper said the main complex would be on 300 acres south of Tonganoxie near Interstate 70, with poultry houses spread over a 50-mile radius. It said the facility would be capable of processing 1.2 million chickens a week and generate 1,600 jobs, by the time of its planned opening in mid-2019.
One Tonganoxie resident told the paper the pattern of secrecy regarding the Tyson development was disturbing to many people. “Of particular concern is the revelation the town’s mayor works at a Kansas City law firm that does business with Tyson,” the paper said.
“After Monday’s reversal of support by the Leavenworth County commissioners, we will put our plans in your community on hold,” said Doug Ramsey, Tyson’s poultry president, according to the Capital-Journal. “We still have interest in Leavenworth County, but will prioritize the other locations in Kansas and other states that have expressed support.”