Jim Pillen, Nebraska’s governor and founder of Pillen Family Farms, has significantly shaped the pork industry. On his first trade mission to Vietnam, he promoted Nebraska’s pork exports, a market crucial to his enterprises. Pillen’s businesses, including Wholestone Farms, which he helped establish in 2018, are integral to Nebraska’s pork production. This dual role of industry leader and governor raises potential conflicts of interest, as he oversees regulations impacting his own operations.
Pillen’s agricultural journey began in the early 1980s with a small hog farm in Platte County, Nebraska. Over decades, he expanded his operations, navigating and adapting to industry changes, including corporate farming laws. By incorporating partnerships and strategic investments, Pillen built one of America’s largest hog operations. In 2013, he rebranded his business to Pillen Family Farms and expanded into genetics with DNA Genetics, focusing on the popular Duroc breed.
Despite his success, Pillen’s business practices and political influence draw scrutiny. He has pushed policies favoring the pork industry, such as opposing California’s Proposition 12, which mandates more space for pigs in CAFOs. His role in regulating the industry he dominates, and his lack of public disclosure on how policies might benefit his businesses, have sparked ethical concerns.
Pillen’s story underscores the complex interplay of agriculture and politics in Nebraska, as he leverages his agricultural expertise to influence state policies, while his business continues to thrive and expand globally. His ascent from a small farm to a vast pork empire, while holding political office, highlights both the opportunities and challenges of such a dual role.
For more details and to view the four-part series, visit Aurora News Register.
