VALENTINE, Neb. - A proposed hog confinement is at the center of an upcoming jury trial in Valentine. The trial for TK Angus versus the Cherry County Board of Commissioners has been scheduled for March 26 and 27 in Valentine.

The dispute began in April 2023 when TK Angus applied for a conditional use permit to build a swine finishing facility east of Valentine. The proposed facility would house up to 4,999 hogs, each weighing more than 55 pounds.

In August 2023, the Cherry County Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend approving the application. However, in November, the Cherry County Board of Commissioners denied the permit. In the denial, board members said the proposal did not meet all county zoning requirements, including compatibility and conditional use statements. The board also said the business would be for commercial use, not agricultural use as mentioned and would result in harm to the county.

TK Angus is now asking the court to determine whether its application meets the necessary requirements and to approve the permit. The lawsuit also seeks any additional relief the court deems fair and just.