WATCH: Can JBS Foods replace what Tyson took? 500 jobs come to Perry, Iowa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #28

By Amie Rivers

June 11, 2025

Brazilian meat giant JBS is bringing 500 jobs back to Perry, Iowa, right where Tyson Foods pulled out. The $135 million sausage production facility offers hope to a community still reeling from the loss of 1,300 Tyson jobs, but questions remain about whether this corporate giant can deliver long-term stability.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith and Amy Rivers examine whether JBS represents genuine economic salvation or just another round of corporate musical chairs. We explore the union victory that restored pensions for JBS workers – something unheard of in meatpacking since the 1980s – and discuss the infrastructure advantages that made Perry attractive to JBS after Tyson’s departure.

Also in this episode, an overview of Iowa’s 2026 Senate race. The dangers of corporate pride. And a one-on-one with US Senate candidate Zach Wahls.

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

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*SHOW RUNDOWN*
00:00 – JBS Announces $135 Million Sausage Plant in Perry, Iowa
00:52 – Economic Impact Analysis – 500 New Jobs vs 1,300 Lost Tyson Positions
01:58 – Long-term Sustainability Concerns with JBS Employment History
02:44 – Union Victory – UFCW Wins Back Pensions at JBS Facilities
03:13 – Construction Timeline – Fall 2024 Start, Late 2026 Production
03:30 – Perry Shooting Timeline Context
03:35 – Episode Break

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Amie Rivers

Amie Rivers is Iowa Starting Line's newsletter editor. She writes the weekly Worker’s Almanac edition of Iowa Starting Line, featuring a roundup of the worker news you need to know. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes and getting pet photos in her inbox.

Have a story tip? Reach Amie at [email protected]. For local reporting in Iowa that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie's newsletter.

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