The proposed pork plant to be established by Wholestone Farms met with initial support, given the prospect of 1,100 new jobs for Sioux Falls. When the scope of the enterprise became known, opposition crystallized, and the permitting of the facility become subject to a voter referendum on November 8th. This proposition if adopted, would ban construction and operation of any new slaughterhouse within city limits. On Wednesday Second Circuit Judge Sandra Hansen imposed a moratorium on development setting aside permits issued for a “butcher shop,” a contrivance to facilitate indirect approval of the plant.
Proponents of the project include the recently formed Sioux Falls Development Foundation that has mounted a campaign to convince voters to accept the plant. The State Soybean Association has provided $125,000 along with businesses in the city to persuade voters to reject the anti-plant proposition. Establishing the facility is supported by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Special Olympics of South Dakota and Governor Kristi Noem along with state legislators and agricultural associations.