Farmers vs Data Centers: Kentucky Family Rejects $26M Offer

Ida Huddleston, 82, and her daughter Delsia Bare, who collectively own 1,200 acres of farmland outside Maysville, Kentucky, have garnered national attention after rejecting a $26 million offer to sell half of their property to an unnamed company for data center development. The significant offer, made in April 2025, was reported to be approximately ten times the average rate for farmland in the region, yet the family remained resolute in their refusal. Huddleston expressed profound concerns about the ecological and societal repercussions of such developments, stating, "If it's my way, I'll stay and hold and feed a nation. 26 million doesn't mean anything." She highlighted fears that data centers contribute to the disappearance of food-producing lands, deplete water resources, and introduce environmental toxins. Videos of their interview quickly went viral, attracting widespread support, including from Fox News host Tomi Lahren, who praised the family's resistance against what she termed "big Tech bullsh*t." In an interview with WKRC, Huddleston dismissed claims that data centers would bring substantial economic benefits and jobs, labeling such assurances as a "scam." The article also drew parallels to ongoing challenges in Texas, where rapid data center expansion is prompting concerns among residents and state officials about excessive water consumption, strain on electricity grids, and the conversion of valuable agricultural land. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is reportedly collaborating with federal bodies to encourage data center siting away from productive farmland, and state Rep. Helen Kerwin has urged Governor Greg Abbott to implement a pause on data center construction in rural communities.