Lexington, Neb. – Fear and uncertainty have settled over this rural Nebraska town after worshippers gathered in the basement of St. Ann’s Catholic Church following Mass, grappling with news that Lexington’s largest employer is shutting down. According to AP, the Tyson Foods beef plant that has anchored the local economy for more than two decades will close next month, leaving thousands of families facing an uncertain future.
Plant Shutdown Threatens Lexington’s Economic Core
More than 3,200 workers will lose their jobs when the Tyson plant closes after operating in Lexington for over 20 years. The town’s population of roughly 11,000 has long revolved around the facility, which drew workers from across the country and abroad.
Economists warn the impact will stretch far beyond the plant gates. A report from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln estimates total job losses could reach 7,000 when related businesses are factored in, including restaurants, grocery stores, barbershops, and food trucks that rely heavily on Tyson workers.
“Losing 3,000 jobs in a city of 10,000 to 12,000 people is as big a closing event as we’ve seen virtually for decades,” said Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University.
Tyson Cites Industry Pressures Behind Closure
Tyson Foods says the decision is part of a plan to “right-size” its beef operations following a historically low U.S. cattle herd. The company expects a $600 million loss in beef production next fiscal year and says the closure is necessary to stabilize its business.
The financial toll on workers is severe. Tyson employees alone are expected to lose an estimated $241 million annually in wages and benefits, according to state analysts.
A Community Built on Opportunity Faces Unraveling
For decades, Lexington represented a version of the American Dream. Immigrants who didn’t speak English or finish high school were able to buy homes, raise families, and send their children to college.
Now, mortgages, car payments, tuition bills, and property taxes loom without paychecks to cover them.
Alejandra Gutierrez learned of the closure just before Thanksgiving while touring a college campus with her daughter.
“At that moment, my daughter said she no longer wanted to study,” Gutierrez said. “Because where would we get the money to pay for college?”
“Tyson Was Our Motherland”
The Tyson plant opened in 1990 and expanded rapidly after being acquired by the company in 2001, nearly doubling Lexington’s population within a decade. Workers arrived from California, Africa, Latin America, and across the Midwest, transforming the town into a diverse and tightly knit community.
“It took a long time for me to enjoy this little place,” said Lizeth Yanes, who moved from Los Angeles. “Now that I enjoy it, now I have to leave.”
Inside the plant, which processes thousands of cattle daily, the mood has turned somber.
“Tyson was our motherland,” said Arab Adan, a Kenyan immigrant whose children attend Lexington schools. “Which state are we gonna go, daddy?” his sons ask him.
Schools and Small Businesses Brace for Fallout
Nearly half of Lexington’s students have a parent working at Tyson. School officials say families leaving could lead to falling enrollment and teacher layoffs.
Local businesses are also bracing for collapse. At Los Jalapeños, a Mexican restaurant near the plant, most customers are Tyson workers.
“If I can’t keep up with the bills, the restaurant will close,” said owner Armando Martinez, who hopes Tyson reconsiders its decision.
Asked about the future of the site, Tyson said it is “assessing how we can repurpose the facility” but did not commit to selling the plant or offering community support.
Officials Call for Corporate Responsibility
City leaders say Tyson has a responsibility to help soften the blow. City Manager Joe Pepplitsch noted that Tyson does not pay city taxes due to a decades-old agreement.
“Tyson owes this community a debt,” Pepplitsch said. “They have a responsibility to help ease some of the impact.”
Workers Face Starting Over With Few Options
At the Dawson County Fairgrounds, displaced workers recently gathered as state agencies offered help with unemployment filings, retraining, and job searches. Many older workers speak limited English, lack computer skills, and have spent decades doing only meatpacking work.
“We know only working in meat for Tyson,” Adan said. “We don’t have any other experience.”
Others echoed the same fear.
“We started here from scratch and it’s time to start from scratch again,” said Fernando Sanchez, who worked at Tyson for 35 years.
As families weigh leaving the town they call home, many worry Lexington itself may not survive without new opportunity.
“Otherwise Lex is gonna disappear,” said Francisco Antonio, a father of four.
