Person County farmer Bryce Berryhill is watching as officials begin early talks with Microsoft about building an AI data center nearby. Some people hope this will bring economic growth, but for Berryhill and others, it means worrying about losing valuable farmland, water, and a way of life handed down for generations. As artificial intelligence infrastructure grows, the struggle between development and preservation is becoming more pressing in rural places like Roxboro.

To document this changing situation, our Champ Lyerly visits Person County to talk with farmers, local leaders, and workers on both sides of the issue to understand what residents stand to lose or gain.