A Pennsylvania farmer, Mervin Raudabaugh, refused a reported $15 million offer from data centre developers. Instead, he sold the development rights on his 261-acre farm for about $2 million. This deal uses a conservation easement to keep the land permanently agricultural and stop commercial development. Raudabaugh, who has farmed the land for over 50 years in Cumberland County, completed the easement on December 30, 2025, under Silver Spring Township’s farmland preservation programme. The programme, launched in 2013 and funded by a $120 annual household tax, has preserved 21 properties so far. The farm holds personal meaning for Raudabaugh, including a barn where his mother passed away. He called the farm "a legacy rather than a commodity," choosing stewardship over profit. Data centre developers aggressively pursued the land due to high demand for power, water, and transport. Officials said the pressure almost led to legal action. This case highlights growing conflicts as AI-driven data centres could cover up to 1,000 square miles in the US by 2030. Pennsylvania loses about 1,200 acres of farmland weekly to development. Most landowners accept large offers, making Raudabaugh’s stand notable. The Lancaster Farmland Trust holds the easement and will enforce the restrictions, protecting the farm forever. His choice symbolizes the local fight to balance conservation and expanding AI infrastructure. As AI use grows, such clashes over rural land are expected nationwide. Raudabaugh’s farm will stay farmland, proving not all land is for sale.