For Tri-State Livestock News
At the end of January, Tyson Fresh Meats filed a lawsuit against one of the largest farming and ranching families in Washington, Easterday Ranches, in an effort to recover losses from fictitious fed cattle sales and feed costs. Additionally, Tyson was hoping to recover 54,000 head of cattle still standing in an Easterday feedlot north of Pasco, Wash. The lawsuit was filed in Franklin County Superior Court in Pasco.
On Feb. 1, days after Tyson sued Easterday Ranches, the ranching operation filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court. Official Form 204 in Easterday Ranches’ bankruptcy filings lists 20 of their largest unsecured claims. The top unsecured claim comes from Tyson Fresh Meats with at least $225 million. The second largest unsecured claim comes from Segale Properties at $8,647,408.57. All 20 unsecured claims add up to $236,671,645.
By Mackenzie Johnston, Reporter
At the end of January, Tyson Fresh Meats filed a lawsuit against one of the largest farming and ranching families in Washington, Easterday Ranches, in an effort to recover losses from fictitious fed cattle sales and feed costs. Additionally, Tyson was hoping to recover 54,000 head of cattle still standing in an Easterday feedlot north of Pasco, Washington. The lawsuit was filed in Franklin County Superior Court in Pasco.
On February 1, days after Tyson sued Easterday Ranches, the ranching operation filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court. Official Form 204 in Easterday Ranches’ bankruptcy filings lists twenty of their largest unsecured claims. The top unsecured claim comes from Tyson Fresh Meats with at least $225 million. The second largest unsecured claim comes from Segale Properties at $8,647,408.57. All twenty unsecured claims add up to $236,671,645.
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.
YakTriNews.com
January 5, 2021 1:27 PM Dylan Carter
Franklin County Assessor Peter McEnderfer abruptly resigned during a meeting of the County Commissioners on the morning of Tuesday, January 5, 2021 (H/T Franklin County Commissioner s Office).
PASCO, Wash. An abrupt twist occurred during the Franklin County Commissioner’s Board Meeting this morning. After a longstanding tenure with the office, Franklin Co. Assessor Peter McEnderfer resigned from his post.
McEnderfer, who served Franklin Co. for 21 and a half years, worked his way up from Residential Appraiser to Chief Appraiser before being elected County Assessor in 2018. He succeeded Steve Marks, who retired shortly before McEnderfer ran for the position.