Ex-Employees Accuse Vance of Betraying Them

J.D. Vance: The Chameleon

In 2018, Eastern Kentucky brimmed with anticipation. J.D. Vance, a son of Appalachia who had ascended to national fame, was coming back to the region, not just as a native returning home, but as a harbinger of economic revival. The promise of jobs and prosperity hung in the air, and many placed their faith—indeed, their very livelihoods—in Vance’s hands. They quit their stable jobs, entrusting their futures to a man they believed understood their struggles. After all, Vance wasn’t just another outsider; he was one of them. Or so they thought.

But what began as a beacon of hope quickly dimmed into disillusionment. AppHarvest, the company Vance championed as a catalyst for change, failed to deliver on its lofty promises. As the months turned into years, the reality for many in Eastern Kentucky grew increasingly bleak. The excitement that once electrified the region was replaced by a grim sense of betrayal, as the very person they had trusted to uplift them appeared to turn his back, according to CNN.

The Chameleon at AppHarvest

Sophia Nelson, a former Yale classmate and close friend of Vance, recently referred to him as a “chameleon” during a CNN interview. The term is especially apt for a man who has reinvented himself multiple times, even adopting different names throughout his life. Born James Donald Bowman, he later became James David Vance and ultimately J.D. Vance—a persona crafted in part by the success of his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.

Hillbilly Elegy, which catapulted Vance to fame, was intended as a reflection on his upbringing in the Appalachian region. However, it drew significant criticism for its portrayal of the Appalachian people, whom many felt were reduced to negative stereotypes. Critics argued that Vance, while presenting himself as a product of the region, seemed to distance himself from its people, portraying them with a condescending lens.

His involvement with AppHarvest, a venture initially hailed as a beacon of economic hope for Eastern Kentucky, exemplifies this chameleon-like nature. Vance presented himself as a champion of Appalachian workers, yet his actions with the company tell a different story. As AppHarvest struggled, local workers found themselves toiling in grueling conditions, with few of the promised benefits materializing. Meanwhile, Vance continued to promote the company, even as its true impact on the community became increasingly apparent.

The Reality on the Ground

The early promise of AppHarvest quickly gave way to harsh realities. Over the span of four years, the company’s operations faltered, and the workers who had placed their trust in Vance found themselves facing extreme heat in the greenhouses, inadequate breaks, and insufficient protections. Some suffered from heat-related illnesses, but despite their complaints, state inspectors reported no violations. The company’s much-touted commitment to local job creation fell apart as it began to rely increasingly on migrant labor from Mexico and Guatemala, further disillusioning those who had once believed in its mission.

A Community Betrayed

For many in Eastern Kentucky, the story of AppHarvest feels all too familiar—a tale of outside investors who arrive with grand promises, only to leave behind a trail of broken dreams. Anthony Morgan, a former crop care specialist at AppHarvest, left a stable job to join the startup, inspired by the idea of contributing to the revitalization of his community. But as production demands grew, working conditions deteriorated. Longer hours, reduced benefits, and unsafe environments became the norm, and Morgan, like many others, felt betrayed by those who were supposed to uplift their community.

Exploitation of Workers

Vance’s role in AppHarvest extended beyond mere investment; it played a crucial part in the exploitation of the very workers he claimed to champion. Despite his public support for the company’s mission, the reality for many AppHarvest employees was one of overwork and underappreciation. The extreme conditions in the greenhouses were compounded by the company’s decision to cut costs, resulting in reduced employee benefits and more demanding workloads. As the company’s financial difficulties mounted, it began replacing local workers with lower-paid migrant laborers—a move that directly contradicted its initial promises.

The disconnect between Vance’s rhetoric and the reality on the ground reveals a troubling pattern. Workers who spoke out or sought medical attention for injuries were often dismissed or ignored, their concerns brushed aside in the pursuit of profitability. The harsh conditions led to numerous complaints, but little was done to address them, highlighting a stark contrast between the image Vance cultivated and the actions he took.

Management Missteps and Worker Struggles

The internal mismanagement at AppHarvest only exacerbated these issues. Workers reported a lack of clear direction and inadequate training, with some describing the onboarding process as more focused on ideology than on practical skills. One former worker recalled being shown an environmental documentary during training, with little attention given to the essential duties of the job. These conditions eventually led to a mass exodus of employees, many of whom were replaced by contract laborers.

The Company’s Collapse

As AppHarvest’s financial troubles deepened, its stock plummeted, and lawsuits began to pile up. By the time Vance stepped down from the board in April 2021, the company was already in a precarious position. Although Vance was not directly implicated in the lawsuits, his continued support of the company and its mission came under scrutiny. AppHarvest eventually spiraled into bankruptcy, burdened by over $341 million in debt. A court filing revealed that the company faced a liquidity crisis, driven by lower-than-expected crop yields and rising costs—an outcome that starkly contrasted with the promises made to the people of Eastern Kentucky.

A Lesson in Unfulfilled Promises

As J.D. Vance now campaigns on a platform of economic prosperity, his involvement with AppHarvest casts a long shadow. For many former employees, the experience at AppHarvest serves as a poignant reminder of the gap between political rhetoric and reality. The story of AppHarvest is not just a cautionary tale of a failed business but also a reflection of the broader challenges facing economically distressed regions in America. It underscores the importance of holding leaders accountable for the promises they make, especially when those promises come at such a high human cost.

In the end, J.D. Vance’s actions at AppHarvest serve as a testament to the chameleon-like nature that Sophia Nelson so accurately described. While he may have once presented himself as a champion of the Appalachian people, his true legacy in Eastern Kentucky is one of broken promises and unfulfilled dreams.