Outside of Kansas City, MO, the Lone Jack farming community finds itself at odds over the expanding Valley Oaks Steak Company cattle farm.
Farms and nearby businesses are concerned that if Valley Oaks expands, the odors and contaminated runoff will become unbearable.
Tasha Stephens, who lives nearby, can already see the silver roofs of the current Valley Oaks facility from her neighbor's open-pasture cattle farm.
“I cried happy tears,” she explained, when she found out the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission put Valley Oaks' expansion plans on hold.
“We had a brief celebration.”
Tasha Stephens stands on her neighbor and friend's cattle farm. She pointed out Valley Oaks Steak Company's facility, somewhat visible in the distance in the trees between to the right of the red barn.
Valley Oaks rebutted, citing impending costs, and likely layoffs of about 50 employees to help offset those costs.
Ahead of the plan being put on hold, the company already invested $20 million, planning on another $10 million to complete the project.
It also already entered into a $55 million, five-year contract with a Kansas food-delivery service.
KSHB-TV reporter Tom Dempsey reports on the situation on-location from a neighboring cattle farm.
Tasha Stephens says she will continue fighting against the company's expansion.
“The reality is it’s not done. I just don’t think we’ll give up. I think that we will take this as far and as long as we possibly can.”
