Pa. farmer turns down $15M from data center developers: Hear him explain why

Cumberland County farmer Mervin Raudabaugh, 86, chose instead to sell the development rights to his 261 acres in Silver Spring Township for just under $1.9 million. The conservation easements now held by Lancaster Farmland Trust effectively preserve Raudabaugh’s farms for agricultural use in perpetuity. Raudabaugh, who has several heirs but none interested in taking over the farm, said he had actually explored preservation for several years. He finalized the deal late last year after what he described as persistent efforts by a data center team to buy his 261 acres and two neighboring properties. Video by Dan Gleiter/PennLive.com)