By DEBORAH BEHRENDS

Indiana Correspondent

STARLIGHT, Ind. — Joe Huber's Family Farm & Restaurant will stay in business after a Nov. 17 auction of the property. Most of the 156-acre property was sold for $2,731,300 at the auction conducted by the Harritt Group of New Albany, Ind.

Although several of the Huber family members are retiring – prompting the sale – others purchased the 31.17-acre lot containing the restaurant, catering barn and lakes, and a neighboring 6.65-acre lot, for $880,000. Local businessman and philanthropist Sam Shine purchased the majority of the farmland for $1.32 million and two other bidders bought smaller parcels of farmland.

Shine is the owner and former CEO of Samtec in New Albany.

Several regional news outlets reported that he and Jenna Huber Clem, daughter of the late Joe Huber III, offered to purchase the entire farm for $2.5 million before auction, but the offer was declined. Clem will continue to run the business with an aunt and uncle.

The only lot that did not sell was a 0.87-acre parcel containing a three-bedroom home. That parcel was tabled at the auction.

Clem made the following post on the Save Joe Huber's Family Farm page on Facebook on Nov. 17 after the auction: "From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank the community for your support. It truly would have been impossible without you! I’m so proud to have the honor of continuing my father’s legacy.

“I'm excited for the future and to be able to continue my grandfather's vision. I also want to say thank you to Sam Shine, as none of this would be possible without him. He is one of the most genuine and kind people I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. I can’t thank you enough, Mr. Shine.”

She also thanked her husband, her sister Terra, Louie and Katie Huber and Chuck and Tracye Huber, and added, “To everyone who donated to the GoFundMe (online crowd-funding) page, I will forever be grateful. Your kind words will stay with me forever."