Courtesy of Easterday Farms public Facebook page
Updated Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, 5 p.m. PT
The Easterday family spread unfurls across the Columbia Basin yawning onion farms, massive potato sheds, huge swaths of ground cut into pens for cattle and a fleet of employee vehicles and tractors.
But the Easterday family has other assets: A million-dollar house in Phoenix and a private plane and hangar.
Since December, Easterday Ranches has been embroiled in an alleged scandalous cattle rustling scheme. The charge: Easterday invented 200,000 head of cattle on paper. Major client Tyson Fresh Meats sued, asking for compensation of at least $225 million for the ghost herd. Days before the lawsuit was filed, the Easterdays sold one of their key properties a cattle feedlot called the “North Lot” in Franklin County to a competitor of Tyson for $16 million.
Courtesy of Nicole Berg
Now, Easterday Ranches has filed for bankruptcy in federal court.
This follows accusations by Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. based in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Tyson Fresh Meats employs more than 41,000 people and is one of the largest meat processing companies in the U.S.
Tyson alleges that Easterday invented 200,000 head of cattle on paper then “fed” the fictitious beasts. Then, Easterday sold its prime cattle feedlot to a competing meat company. In its own lawsuit against Easterday, Tyson wants at least $225 million in compensation. In its bankruptcy filing, Easterday acknowledged that it owed Tyson a debt in the same amount.