A company wants to pay a family 26 million dollars to build a data center on their land. However, they reject the offer.
The title image is a symbolic image.
An unspecified AI company wanted to offer a farming family in Kentucky 26 million US dollars for part of their farmland. This is approximately 22.5 million euros (as of March 26, 2026). Specifically, it is about 1,200 acres. An acre is an Anglo-American unit of area and is slightly smaller than a hectare commonly used here.
However, the family rejected the offer: Money means nothing to them, as they have lived here for years and are responsible for food supply with their land. Nevertheless, the data center will likely be built near their property.
Family rejects million-dollar offer, wants to continue living on their land
The daughter of the 82-year-old owner explained that they do not want to part with the land: On one hand, her family feels strongly connected to the land. Moreover, they have nourished the land with agriculture for years. She told the Local12 editorial team:
Stay, hold, and feed a nation. 26 million dollars mean nothing.
My grandfather and great-grandfather and a whole bunch of family members have all lived here for years, paid taxes for it, and fed a nation. They even grew wheat during the Great Depression and maintained the bread distributions in the United States of America when people had nothing else.
In addition, the family does not want to believe the AI company. Although the company told them that the project would bring new jobs and economic growth to the region, the 82-year-old owner herself explained that she considers that lies:
I say they are liars, and the truth is not in them. That is my opinion. It’s a scam.
What happens now with the company’s plans? The data center will likely still be built. Although not on the family’s land, but in the direct vicinity of the property. The unnamed company has reportedly revised its plans and is now utilizing properties from owners who were willing to sell.
After all, some have probably sold at high prices. Indeed, the purchase prices are said to have been ten times the original value.
More than 2,000 computers were sold for 100 euros on eBay. The devices were rather discovered by chance, as the storage space was about to collapse. Behind the devices lies Canadian tech history, which has now come to light again: A man hid 2,200 computers in a barn for 23 years, then he sold the devices on eBay for 100 euros
