Sioux Falls: Major Announcement Planned – ‘Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity’

Smithfield Foods Future in Sioux Falls to be Revealed in ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Announcement

Monday, February 16, 2026 – Sioux Falls residents and observers across the country await a major announcement concerning the future of the Smithfield Foods pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mayor Paul TenHaken and Governor Larry Rhoden are scheduled to deliver the details at a morning event held at the Canopy by Hilton in downtown Sioux Falls.

The announcement has been billed by city officials as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” signaling a potentially significant development for one of the city’s largest employers. A press release from the city on Friday stated, “People across the country will be paying attention to this defining moment in Sioux Falls and South Dakota.”

Smithfield Foods has been a fixture in Sioux Falls since 1995, when it acquired the facility from John Morrell & Co. The original Morrell plant dates back to 1909. Today, the plant employs more than 3,100 people, making it the fourth-largest employer in Sioux Falls, behind Sanford Health, Avera Health, and the Sioux Falls School District.

The 80-acre Smithfield property is located near Falls Park, a central feature of the city. Recent city planning discussions have included the possibility of acquiring land adjacent to the Smithfield facility for the development of an urban fishery. A proposed master plan for Falls Park, unveiled in December, included Smithfield within its scope, though the details of any potential changes to the plant itself were not immediately clear.

City officials have emphasized the long-term nature of such large-scale projects. Mike Patten, the Parks Department planning and projects manager, noted to the City Council that current features at Falls Park were initially planned in the 1990s, suggesting a decades-long timeline for realizing ambitious visions.

The announcement comes on the heels of Smithfield’s recent acquisition of Nathan’s Famous, the all-beef hotdog manufacturer, in January. Smithfield, headquartered in Virginia, is itself a subsidiary of the world’s largest pork producer. The implications of this acquisition, and its potential connection to the Sioux Falls announcement, remain to be seen.

The Dakota Scout confirmed that the announcement will specifically address details regarding Smithfield Foods. The anticipation surrounding the event suggests a potentially transformative change for the company’s operations in Sioux Falls, and for the city’s economic landscape. Further details are expected to be released following the event at the Canopy by Hilton.