“For 40 years, Farm Aid has stood with farmers, supporting them to stay on their land even when corporate power, bad policies and broken promises make it harder to keep going. Family farmers aren’t backing down, and neither are we.”
— Willie Nelson, Farm Aid President
It’s hard to believe that this year marks forty years of Farm Aid. I did not imagine in 1985 that this work would continue. As my friend John Mellencamp and I often remark, we thought we’d raise a ruckus with the first concert and folks in Washington would wake up and set things straight for family farmers. Turns out we took on a bigger task than we knew at the time. Sometimes I’ve expressed frustration that there continues to be a need for Farm Aid—that we haven’t solved all the challenges farmers face yet.
But with age, comes wisdom (or so they say) and that’s helped me understand that one of the roles Farm Aid plays will always be needed. I’m talking about the need to give thanks to our farmers and ranchers. We eat every day—to fuel ourselves, to show our care and love for our families, to celebrate special moments—and yet we don’t stop often enough to appreciate the people who work so hard to put food on our table. I’m proud that for forty years, we’ve brought people together from all over the country—and even the world—to appreciate and celebrate family farmers.
Forty years is not just a moment to look back, but a moment to look forward. I see Farm Aid staying strong into the future, strengthening the people who grow our food and care for our soil and water—the people who are the backbone of our country. Family farmers will always deserve the spotlight Farm Aid shines on them and the support we provide.
I’m excited that Farm Aid 40 will take place at Huntington Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, on Saturday, September 20. This is the first Farm Aid festival in Minnesota, a state that has deep agricultural roots and one that has played a central role in the farm movement. Like Farm Aid, Minnesota looks forward by being innovative in its support of diverse farmers from many backgrounds and traditions, in its care of new, young farmers and in strengthening farmers in a holistic way.
Standing Up
Over these 40 years, more than 500 artists, including my friends and fellow board members, have donated their time and talent to celebrate all that family farmers do to steward our soil and water, and to nourish and strengthen our communities. When we come together each year, farmers take center stage and we all get a chance to hear and know their struggles, triumphs and hopes. The generosity of people like you who make donations, buy festival tickets and t-shirts, or participate from afar fuels our work—and the work of people-powered farm organizations across the country—all year long.
When the farm crisis of the 1980s threatened to push hundreds of thousands of farmers off the land, this movement stood up to say, “Heck no.” When factory farms moved into rural communities, harming our air and water, damaging competitive markets and wrecking the quality of rural life, we stood up again to fight for our farms, communities, and our soil and water. The number of farmers’ markets, farm stands and places that serve family farm food has exploded! More of us don’t just know about the value of sustainable and local agriculture, we support it directly through our food purchases. Culturally, farmers are front and center—on menus, in films and books, and holding office, where they’ve been elected to help make policy that benefits all of us.
Since 1985, some challenges have remained for family farmers, including the unknowns of weather, the ups and downs of markets and policies that help the big guys more than the little ones. Some challenges have gotten harder, like access to farmland, the impacts of climate change and the increasing concentration of power held by corporations. But you and I know people have power too and when we come together, we CAN win! This movement of family farmers, farm advocates and people who care about food has accomplished a lot.
When we support family farmers, we all win. Please stand with me to show them you know how important they are. A gift in any amount makes a real difference.
With your support, Farm Aid will continue to be strong for family farmers, connecting them in Minnesota, the Midwest and across the country with the resources they need to thrive, including long-term solutions that strengthen them and our farm and food system as a whole. We will provide emergency assistance when disasters strike and advocate for fair policies that promote sustainability, equity, resiliency, access and diversity across our food system. And we’ll celebrate them and all the ways they bring good food, health and joy to our lives.
I hope that you’ll join us in Minneapolis for Farm Aid 40 or by tuning in to Farm Aid 40 from home. I’m grateful for your support over these years. Standing together with you for family farmers and ranchers is one of the things I’m most proud of.
Stay Strong and Positive,
President, Farm Aid
