In Silver Spring Township, 86-year-old farmer Mervin Raudabaugh was offered over $15 million for his 261-acre farm by developers planning to build a massive data center. That’s about $60,000 per acre — far above the area’s typical farmland value. For many, it would have been an easy yes. But after more than 50 years working that land, Raudabaugh saw it as family legacy, not real estate. Believing farmland is irreplaceable once developed, he declined the offer and instead placed the property under a permanent conservation easement through Lancaster Farmland Trust. He sold the development rights for around $2 million while keeping ownership, legally ensuring the land can only be used for agriculture. As data centers expand into rural areas, he chose preservation over profit. What do you think? • Follow artificialntellligence for more content on AI and technology. #farmland #agriculture #legacy #conservation #technology