MAYSVILLE, Ky. — A northern Kentucky family has rejected a reported $26 million offer for roughly half of its 1,200-acre farm, saying the agricultural land and its ability to produce food are more important than selling it for a proposed data center.
Ida Huddleston, 82, and her daughter, Delsia Bare, told WKRC-TV that an unnamed company approached the family about purchasing about 600 acres. The offer was several times the area’s agricultural value. The family has owned and worked the property for generations.
Huddleston and Bare cited concerns about the loss of farmland, water demand, pollution and whether the project would deliver lasting local benefits. Bare said the family preferred to keep producing food. Their decision does not necessarily stop development: the company revised its plans and sought rezoning for more than 2,000 nearby acres, according to reports.
Data centers require large amounts of electricity and, depending on cooling design, water. Developers say the projects expand tax bases, create construction work and support digital services. Critics in rural communities question how many permanent jobs remain after construction and whether utilities, roads and water systems can absorb the demand.
The company was not identified publicly, making it impossible to assess its specific design, resource estimates or economic commitments. Some later headlines described the bidder as an AI company, but the local report referred more generally to a major technology company pursuing a data center.
The family’s refusal has attracted national attention because it puts a price on a broader conflict: rapid expansion of computing infrastructure is increasing demand for large, power-ready sites, while farmers and communities are deciding which land they are willing to convert.
Sources: Gizmodo, WKRC-TV Local 12 and TechCrunch. Gizmodo published its report Aug. 10, 2026; WKRC first reported the case March 19, 2026.
