Farmers in Posey County, Indiana, have publicly refused Amazon’s request to purchase a parcel of land that has been in the Herrenbruck family since 1849. The land, located at the corner of Boberg and Hoenert roads, has been farmed for more than a century and is central to the family’s livelihood.
Generations of farming on the line
Dennis Herrenbruck, who is in his 57th crop, and his son‑in‑law Jason Naab explained that the property has been in the family for 175 years. “This land has been in our family since 1849. Purchased by my great‑great‑grandfather,” Herrenbruck said. “I’ve never hated what I do, any morning that I get up.”
Naab added, “This is where Dennis grew up, this is where my wife grew up. We’ve lived out here all our life and that’s where I grew up, and that’s what I know. As you can see, it’s a mainly agricultural community.”
Why the offer was rejected
When Amazon approached the family this summer with a proposal to build a data center on the site, both men said the offer was turned down. “There’s not enough money in the world to buy my farmland that’s been here for 175 years,” Herrenbruck said.
Farmers voiced several concerns. One warned that the data center would turn the fertile fields into a desert, devaluing surrounding property. Another stressed that the facility would deplete water supplies and reduce the region’s ability to grow food for the nation.
Community impact was also a major factor. “It’s quiet out here. People know each other. You know who moves in. You lived here for 25 years, you’re the new person in the neighborhood,” a farmer explained, emphasizing the close‑knit nature of the area.
Broader debate over data centers
The farmers framed their opposition as part of a national discussion about data‑center development in small, rural communities. “We don’t feel free anymore. It’s like, we don’t have a decision for our future. We’re being told what our future’s going to be,” one farmer said.
They described the trend as an “epidemic” that threatens small towns across the United States, stripping residents of a say in how they live.
Call to action
Local residents plan to continue resisting the project, urging neighbors to join the effort. “We owe it to all our community. We owe it to Southern Indiana, the rest of the state. The rest of the state is fighting them elsewhere. It’s going to take everyone to stand and say they’re fed up,” one farmer declared.
Another farmer summed up the sentiment: “We don’t need this. It’s not going to benefit us. It’s gonna benefit the government, it’s gonna benefit CenterPoint, it’s gonna benefit Amazon. It’s not gonna benefit us.”
They concluded with a warning: “So you better join the fight now, because it’s gonna be on your doorstep next.”
What’s next?
While Amazon has not publicly responded to the farmers’ statements, the dispute highlights the tension between large‑scale technology projects and the preservation of traditional agricultural communities. Posey County officials have not indicated any imminent zoning changes, and the farmers say they will keep monitoring the situation and mobilizing local support.
Original reporting: 14 News WFIE Evansville (news) — read the source article.
