I just got back with staying with a friend in Eaton, CO, a grain-producing town (one of my many stops in that state) about 15 miles northwest of the ever-present Monfort Meat Packing Co (nka “Swift”). In the past, I have had several relatives who lived within a five-mile radius of Monfort (“Kersey” area) and I could still smell the feedlots while standing on their lots and in their houses with the windows open. The locals are used to it because the plant is a “fixture” in the area.
Monfort’s cattle is/was literally stacked on top of one-another in their dozens of feedlots.
Immigration (mostly Mexican and central American) was ALWAYS available locally to staff Monfort and to farm onions and sugar beets.
The plant was raided in 2006 and lost about 1300 workers due to not having I-9’s filed or not having the proper documents as represented on their I-9’s which were filed with the employer fraudulently. Most of the workers without proper documentation were deported at the time. The plant literally had to start from scratch hiring quickly again.
In the past 35 years or so, I have made over 60 road trips from San Diego to this immediate area. Longtime Weld and Morgan County residents have always complained vociferously about local immigrants (not necessarily race-specific) using their schools and social services but I have YET to see ANY American citizen who lives there, young or old, state that they wanted to work in any of these agricultural jobs.
In fact, as of 2012, both Weld and neighboring Morgan County’s population was comprised of more than 28% and 34%, respectively, “Hispanic or Latino” individuals, much the same as most California counties.
The work at Monfort is very hard, dirty and grueling and workers run equipment which can easily maim or kill them if they are not very careful. They supply a very large amount of restaurant chains across the US (ex: Black Angus).
In spite of all this, what they pay is a very good wage to their employees whose families are using indigent healthcare and other state services.
I don’t see American citizens of any race ever wanting these jobs, nor taking them. Most High school graduates who grow up around the area of Monfort go onto college and many leave the area after college graduation to take employment elsewhere. There are a handful of GREAT universities in and within 35 miles of Greeley, CO.
