• Family insists on preserving historic land despite massive offer
• Major company plans to build a 900-acre data center

The Hadleston family in Kentucky has confirmed that it turned down a $26 million offer from one of the nation’s largest Fortune 100 companies to purchase roughly 900 acres of their farmland for a massive data center.

The property, which spans 1,200 acres, has been in the family for generations. The family has long managed the farm, raising livestock distributed throughout the region, and during the Great Depression, the farm helped provide food for the local community.

Delsia Barr, a member of the family, told reporters: “The first feeling that comes to mind is the sadness at the thought of losing this land. It’s a real ache in the heart.”

Her mother, Ida Hadleston, added: “I said no. My land isn’t for sale. What I own here, I want to pass on to future generations, as God has instructed me, keeping it until my time ends, and then passing it to the next generation.”

Matt Wellingford, mayor of the city of Maysville, noted that the proposed project would have a significant impact on the area, with expectations that it could create over 1,000 construction jobs over eight to ten years, in addition to 100 permanent positions with an average annual salary of up to $100,000.

However, the family emphasized that their concerns extend beyond money. They aim to protect water systems, preserve fertile soil, and avoid overloading the local power grid.

The family said: “People call us foolish farmers, but we know when our food disappears and when our land is at risk.”

Ida also explained that her home was built on the land by her late husband, and she wants to spend her life there. She added: “He is always here with me, guiding me on what needs to be done on the farm each day, ensuring everything is done properly.”

The family affirmed their determination to resist pressure from the wealthy corporation, stressing that humanity and a connection to the land remain at the heart of their decision.