Farm Aid mourns the passing of our dear friend, Corky Jones, who passed yesterday at the age of 92. A lifelong farmer in Brownsville, Nebraska, Corky was a leader of the American Agriculture Movement and one of the leaders of the 1979 Tractorcade, driving his tractor from Nebraska to Washington, DC, to stand with and for all American farmers fighting to stay on the land.
Corky is one of the determined farmers upon whose shoulders Farm Aid stands; he was a tireless advocate and warrior for family farmers. We send deep condolences to Corky’s family, to his wide family of friends and especially to his close friend David Senter, Farm Aid’s historian. We will miss his softspoken but determined voice for agriculture and his generous friendship. We’ll miss his stories of adventures with tractorcades and the way they organized thousands of farmers by phone and mail.
Corky was a staple at Farm Aid festivals, traveling from Nebraska to the concert each year.
Corky Jones with David Senter. Photo © Marc Hauser
Corky Jones with David Senter.
Corky Jones and David Senter watch the Farm Aid 2018 press event. Photo © Ebet Roberts
Corky Jones on-stage at the Farm Aid 30 press event in 2015. Photo © Ebet Roberts
Listen to Corky and David
At the 30th anniversary Farm Aid festival in 2015, Corky and David recorded this interview for StoryCorps, which you can hear below or on the StoryCorps website.
