The Special Olympics of South Dakota has changed its mind about Wholestone Farms’ proposed pork plant in Sioux Falls, S.D.
In a Mitchell Republic article, the local organization reversed is position and now supports the project. Darryl Nordquist, the group’s CEO admitted, “I screwed up.”
Along with nearly 60 other businesses and nonprofits, the Special Olympics of South Dakota had signed an open letter opposing the plant. However, since that time, a local farmer has since convinced him it won’t be that smelly.
Nordquist claims that the proposed pork plant will be better for farmers.
The project is important to local agriculture, Wholestone Farms says, with its pig supply mostly coming from farmers that live within 75 miles of Sioux Falls. Wholestone Farms has invested $45 million in wastewater treatment, and its operations match or exceed the City of Sioux Falls treatment plant, Luke Minion, chairman of the company’s board, told the Associated Press in April.
Wholestone Farms announced plans in June 2021 to build the facility in the city that’s also home to a massive Smithfield Foods pork processing plant. Established in 2018, the company is owned by 200 members who are independent family farmers raising livestock in the upper Midwest.
The company has said the facility could employ 2,000 workers and process six million hogs a year, according to South Dakota Public Broadcasting. The company intends to work in partnership with the Smithfield plant.
Wholestone plans to install a $45 million wastewater treatment system and other new technologies to limit odors. After it’s treated, the wastewater would be discharged into the Big Sioux River, South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports.
Gov. Kristi Noem said in a statement “Lt. Governor Rhoden and I fully support South Dakota value-added agriculture. This is an issue that will be decided at the local level.”
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