Jim Pillen: Governor, pork empire owner

Also: 1 in 10 in U.S. lack food, Dave Dickey's latest column, and details on our Sept. 10 Iowa City event.

Aug. 31, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Pillen's as governor raises conflict of interest questions

Late last year, Nebraskans voted Jim Pillen into the governor’s office. In the years leading up to his election, he founded one of the largest hog producers in America, Pillen Family Farms.

But his success story now raises conflict of interest questions. Pillen has not said whether he’s sold his business interests, and he’s now in a position to control an economic agenda that could boost Nebraska’s pork industry — which he and his family dominate.

In the first story of a series, Investigate Midwest and the Flatwater Free Press, a Nebraska nonprofit newsroom, detail how Pillen grew his business, how he vertically integrated and how he’s governing now.

— Sky Chadde, assistant editor/senior reporter

Pillen’s Rise: After building pork empire, Nebraska’s governor stands at intersection of state and ag power
By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest, and Yanqi Xu, Flatwater Free Press

Pillen Family Farms is Nebraska’s largest pork producer — and one of the largest in the nation. The pigs raised at Pillen farms are sold to meatpacking behemoths like Tyson Foods, intertwining Gov. Jim Pillen’s company with even bigger players in Big Ag. From humble roots in the 1990s, the Pillen operation has spread from its home base in eastern Nebraska to points across the globe.

It’s a bona fide success story. And its latest chapter, with the main character serving as governor, concerns watchdog groups and conflict-of-interest experts who spoke to Investigate Midwest and the Flatwater Free Press.

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I SUPPORT REPORTING ON AG LEADERS

GRAPHIC: One in 10 households is food insecure, data shows

Slightly more than 10% of U.S. households did not have consistent access to enough food for all members to lead an active and healthy life at some point in 2021, the latest data available from USDA.

Search the graphic.

Opinion: Another day, another U.S. Supreme Court power grab?
By Dave Dickey, Columnist

In his latest column, Dave Dickey writes about several ag-related cases in from of the U.S. high court. He writes: "The founders wished to avoid usurpation of power by a single individual or group, or the circumvention of law by rulers for their own benefit. And yet right now, the U.S. Supreme Court is intent on handcuffing the executive branch’s ability to write rules and regulation."