"Greeley, CO is a city defined by cattle. It's home to the U.S. headquarters of JBS, the world's largest meat processor, and the meatpacking plant is one of the biggest employers in town. For decades, the industry has shaped not only the local economy but also the community itself. From the outside, many imagine Greeley as a classic cowboy town: conservative, agricultural, and mostly white."
"His job was brutal: using an electric knife to skin cow legs as hundreds of carcasses moved past each hour. The pace was relentless, the labor exhausting, and the risk of injury constant. Mohamed eventually hurt his hand so badly that he could no longer make a fist. Even so, he wanted to return to work - because he had bills to pay and a family to support overseas."
Greeley, Colorado hosts the U.S. headquarters of JBS and a major meatpacking plant that dominates the local economy and employment. The city has attracted refugees from around the world who often accept meatpacking jobs with little English and few alternatives. New arrivals can be placed into slaughterhouse work quickly, sometimes unaware of job details before the first day. Slaughterhouse work involves tasks like skinning cow legs on fast-moving lines, long shifts, and constant risk of serious injury. Meatpacking carries high rates of repetitive stress injuries and amputations, with research reporting about two amputations weekly nationwide.
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