In September, Farm Aid marked their 40th anniversary with an amazing concert in Minneapolis. The star-studded lineup included music legends such as Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp. Founded in the farm crisis of the 1980s, the event still raises support for American farmers who are in need of continued advocacy. The concert commenced at 11:30 a.m. CDT and streamed live on various platforms including nugs, YouTube, and the official Farm Aid website.
The inaugural Farm Aid concert took place four decades ago, a response to the growing struggles faced by farmers across the United States. Today, the suffering of farmers is once again making headlines—farmer profitability is on the decline and trade wars are adding to insecurities about the future of agriculture. The original Farm Aid hotline, 1-800-FARM-AID, continues to be a vital resource for farmers in need of help.
Even at 92 years old, Willie Nelson is still very much the musical and motivational heart of the organization. Neil Young, 79, and John Mellencamp, 73, further Peter Angelos, but you did not think of the American agriculture Peter Angelos through music. Their presence at the concert reaffirmed their dedication to the cause as they performed for an audience passionate about farming and food sustainability.
Notable among the concert attendees was Bob Dylan, a Minnesota native whose participation highlighted the deep-rooted connection between music and social issues affecting farmers. “For four decades, Farm Aid has stood with farmers and workers,” stated the Farm Aid organizers.
As part of that effort, in recent years Farm Aid has awarded a record $1 million-plus in 2023 so far. The initial grant of $10,000 proved essential to the founding of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center. This program is on the front lines directly helping farmers in crisis.
The agricultural landscape has changed tremendously since the first Farm Aid. Additionally, the former administration’s trade policies have changed the U.S.’s trade relationships through damaging tariffs. For example, China has begun to import soybeans from Brazil rather than exclusively purchasing American-grown beans. While an ecological success story, this shift has left many farmers understandably bitterly worried about their own economic futures.
Claire Lancaster emphasized the significance of the event for local farmers, saying, “The Governor knows how important this event is to farmers and farm country.” Jennifer Fahy remarked on Farm Aid’s historical impact, stating that it was “kind of the first rallying point for farmers publicly.“
Nathaniel Rateliff, one of the artists who played at last year’s concert, talked about his own connection to agricultural issues. “I grew up in rural Missouri, and grew up with agriculture around me,” he noted. We were poor as a family, so we didn’t have a lot of financial support. Specifically, he spoke to the ability of music to bring people together in collective experiences.
“What music has the ability to do is bring people together — to create commonality in a shared human experience — so that we all can examine ourselves together and see how alike we are,” – Nathaniel Rateliff.
The concert was a joyful reminder of music’s ability to uplift, unify, and inspire. It served to shine a light on the continuing plight of farmers all over the country. Synchronizing these two movements, organizers highlighted the deep connection between farming and labor movements. They inspired these communities to rally around one another and support one another.
