Northern Kentucky family declines $26 million bid as data center plans advance

A family in Maysville, Kentucky, has made headlines by rejecting a substantial $26 million offer from an unnamed artificial intelligence company for 600 of their 1,200 acres of farmland. Ida Huddleston, 82, and her daughter Delsia Bare, who inherited the land from generations of farmers, expressed their deep connection to the property and their commitment to its agricultural use. Bare emphasized that the money was irrelevant, stating, "$26 million doesn't mean anything" compared to their legacy of feeding the nation. The Huddleston-Bare family voiced strong opposition to the proposed data center, highlighting concerns about the disappearance of farmland, potential water scarcity, and environmental impacts. Ida Huddleston specifically distrusted the promises of job creation and economic prosperity often associated with such developments, calling it a "scam." Despite the family's refusal, the AI company reportedly redrew its development plans, proceeding with land acquisitions from other owners who agreed to sell. Consequently, the data center project is still advancing and is expected to be built adjacent to the Huddleston-Bare property. A formal zoning request for nearly 2,000 acres of agricultural land near Big Pond Pike, Germantown Road, and Valley Pike Road has been made public, with the Joint Planning Commission scheduling two public meetings on March 25 and 26 at Maysville Community and Technical College to consider the rezoning.