- Daron Culbertson, a lifelong cattle farmer and county supervisor, is selling his family’s historic farm to a data center developer, citing rising costs and limited farming viability.
- The land sits in an increasingly industrialized corridor near Remington, making it attractive for data infrastructure expansion.
- The controversial sale highlights broader shifts in rural land use, as legacy farmers navigate economic survival and changing regional priorities.
A Generational Farm Meets Modern Economics
Daron Culbertson has spent decades trying to keep his family’s cattle farm running in Fauquier County. But after years of mounting property taxes and stagnant farm income, Culbertson made a difficult choice. The changing landscape around him left few options. He decided to sell — not to housing developers, but to a data center operator, reports Fauquier.
“It’s not about abandoning farming,” he said. “It’s about realizing that farming alone isn’t enough anymore.”
The Numbers No Longer Work
After inheriting the Remington-area land in 2012, Culbertson invested heavily in the farm while also launching a fencing business to subsidize operations. Despite those efforts, the returns didn’t keep up. Taxes and insurance costs have doubled in just over a decade. Meanwhile, his cattle operation brought in about $30K last year — far from enough to support a family or maintain a 173-acre farm.
He explored conservation programs and carbon credits, but said none made financial sense given the land’s location near existing development and infrastructure.
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From Rural To Industrial Corridor
The Culbertson property is located near a quarry and a freight rail line. It also borders a Dominion Energy substation and several solar and battery facilities. Together, these elements form an increasingly industrial patch of southern Fauquier. Nearby farmland has already been converted into housing and energy projects. The property’s location near high-capacity power lines adds to its appeal. That proximity made it especially attractive to data center developers.
The buyer, developer Ron Meyer, plans to build what’s being called the Remington Innovation Center, part of Virginia’s growing network of AI-ready data infrastructure.
Not Everyone’s On Board
Culbertson’s decision triggered backlash from some local residents. Many saw the sale as a threat to the county’s rural character. Critics spoke out at public meetings and online, accusing him of prioritizing personal profit over the community’s long-term future.
But Culbertson pushed back, pointing out that southern Fauquier has long lacked the public amenities and investment seen in the northern half of the county. “We haven’t had the same parks, fields, or facilities,” he said. “This project helps us close that gap.”
Promises Tied To The Project
The proposed data center deal includes more than just servers. Culbertson says he collaborated with the developer to reserve 50 acres for community use. The space could support youth sports or educational farming. The deal also includes a multi-million-dollar contribution to local conservation efforts.
His broader argument: one farm sale could support the preservation of others. “If we don’t find ways to make rural life financially viable,” he said, “we’re going to lose a lot more than just my land.”
The Bigger Picture
Fauquier’s farming identity is under pressure — not just from development, but from basic economics. The USDA reports that farms in the area are consistently losing money. Culbertson’s experience reflects a broader trend across rural America. Many families are being forced to choose between preserving tradition and pursuing financial sustainability.
For now, Culbertson is betting that the future of his town lies not in resisting change — but in directing it.
