Farbest Facing Heavy Resistance From McLean County Residents
By: Tabnie Dozier
Updated: November 20, 2012
One of the largest turkey companies in the U.S wants to set up shop in a Western Kentucky county but its not without controversy. Farbest Foods Incorporated has its eye on a new location in McLean County. The company already has locations in Dubois and Knox counties in Indiana and one in Hancock County, Kentucky.
Dozens of upset people in McLean County met at the fiscal court Tuesday morning to protest Farbest setting up a turkey brooder hub. The company says its reputation speaks for itself. Jonnie Jespersen is standing up, fighting to keep her county free from Farbest which wants to st up shop in the Pack Area. The Pack Area is a rural community in McLean County, southeast of Calhoun. But residents in the PACK community say this is a flood-zone, then you add in narrow roads, decreased property value and the smell that comes with the brooder facility this is a plan that apparently has little support. The brooder facility will grow baby turkeys then move them after six weeks to contract farmers, which Farbest says will mean a 15 million dollars investment and four new jobs. Jespersen isn't fighting alone, she's circulating petitions and she has hired a lawyer, but Farbest says it's moving forward. This was not a hearing, simply a public informational meeting, Farbest needs no government approval to continue its plans. No word on a time for breaking ground.
Dozens of upset people in McLean County met at the fiscal court Tuesday morning to protest Farbest setting up a turkey brooder hub. The company says its reputation speaks for itself. Jonnie Jespersen is standing up, fighting to keep her county free from Farbest which wants to st up shop in the Pack Area. The Pack Area is a rural community in McLean County, southeast of Calhoun. But residents in the PACK community say this is a flood-zone, then you add in narrow roads, decreased property value and the smell that comes with the brooder facility this is a plan that apparently has little support. The brooder facility will grow baby turkeys then move them after six weeks to contract farmers, which Farbest says will mean a 15 million dollars investment and four new jobs. Jespersen isn't fighting alone, she's circulating petitions and she has hired a lawyer, but Farbest says it's moving forward. This was not a hearing, simply a public informational meeting, Farbest needs no government approval to continue its plans. No word on a time for breaking ground.
