Virginia poultry co-op to add 146 jobs, invest $113M

The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, a Rockingham County-based turkey processer, plans to grow its operation, investing $113.9 million and adding 146 jobs, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Tuesday.

The cooperative will have the East Coast’s largest feed mill after the completion of the project, according to the governor’s office, allowing the company to process 4.5 million more turkeys a year, up from 7 million annually to 11.5 million. The co-op also intends to purchase 2.4 million more bushels of corn and wheat from Virginia farms over the next three years, on top of the 1.4 million bushel capacity it currently has. In May 2025, the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for the feed mill’s expansion in Linville.

The expansion includes adding a rail spur at the Linville facility and upgrading the water treatment system in Hinton.

VPGC opened in response to the 2004 closing of Pilgrim’s Pride’s poultry processing plant in Hinton, which was a major hit to the Shenandoah Valley economy. As of last year, the co-op employed 565 people and had 165 member-growers, who receive 100% of the cooperative’s profits.

“The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative’s historic investment in Rockingham County is a testament to the power of Virginia’s farmers and producers,” Spanberger said in a statement. “The VPGC was founded over 20 years ago by hardworking turkey farmers who doubled down on their commitment to their work and took charge of their own success. Now, with state-of-the-art facilities and record processing capabilities, they are unquestionable leaders in America’s poultry industry.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and Rockingham County to secure the expansion. Spanberger approved three state grants in support of it, totaling $2.25 million, including a $1 million performance-based grant, a $750,000 grant from the Virginia Rail Industrial Access Program and $500,000 from the governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.

“The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative is grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia and our local partners for their leadership and support, which advance our plans for growth and long-term investment,” VPGC President and General Manager John King said. “This collaboration underscores Virginia’s commitment to a strong, competitive, and resilient agricultural economy. The project will significantly expand our production capabilities while strengthening our contributions to the local communities where we operate.”