As Tyson leaves and a church’s pews empty, its congregation wonders how it – and Lexington

As Tyson leaves and a church’s pews empty, its congregation wonders how it – and Lexington – will survive.

Jan 16, 2026

Tyson’s 3,200 Lexington plant employees make up about half of the town’s labor force. At First United Methodist Church, the congregation is already feeling the toll of the looming closure.