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Farm Aid Opening Press Event: Stars, Staff on The Meaning Behind Music
- Bob Benenson
- Sep 24
- 7 min read
Strong Words in Support of Strong, Resilient, Financially Viable Family Farms
To be sure, if Farm Aid's concert was all there was to its annual festival, it would still be a lasting memory.
The 13-hour-long show at University of Minnesota's football stadium on Saturday (September 20) — a celebration of Farm Aid's 40th anniversary that was witnessed by an announced crowd of 37,000 — featured a mix of music Hall of Famers, other long popular acts, and rising stars (and yes, there's a fanboy side to me).
But as publisher/writer of Local Food Forum and a full-time advocate for a better food system, the most important part of the Farm Aid Festival comes immediately before the music, at the press event held on the concert stage.
There, the leaders of the Farm Aid organization explain its history, its mission, and how it has helped family farmers weather a series of existential challenges. The musician members of the Farm Aid Board — co-founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, along with Dave Matthews and Margo Price — state, often in no uncertain terms, why the non-profit means so much to them.
The press event also highlights Farm Aid's selected "farmer heroes" from the venue's region. Here, I will just name the Minnesota farmers so honored at this year's event, as their powerful and moving stories are worthy of their own follow-up article:
Hannah Bernhardt, Medicine Creek Farm, Finlayson
Ruth Ann Carty, farm advocate, Clarkfield
Angela Dawson, Forty Acres Co-Op, Willow River
Bonnie Haugen, Springside Farm, Canton
Moses Momanyi, Kilimo Minnesota Incubator Farm, Lino Lakes
Jim VanDerPol, Pastures a Plenty, Kerkhoven
Kelsey Zaavedra, Heirloomista Farm, Branch
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Willie Nelson is a marvel, still touring at age 92. He played a full set, which ended at about 12:45 a.m., to close out the concert. He saved his energy at the press event, making this short statement: "Thank you for coming out, supporting the small family farmer, and thank all y'all for being here. It's going to be a good day."
Farm Aid Co-Executive Directors Sharlette Ammons and Jennifer Fahy (seen in the photo at the top of the article) then took turns describing the vital role that the organization plays in aiding family farmers and advocating for a healthier and more sustainable food system. They became Farm Aid's leaders in January upon the retirements of Carolyn Mugar, who had been executive director since Farm Aid's founding in 1985, and Glenda Yoder, the associate director since 1990.
Sharlette and Jennifer also maintain their previous roles, as program director and communications director respectively.
The following are takeaway quotes from their comments:
Sharlette: "When we looked at where to mark 40 years of activism, Minnesota was our top choice... According to the data from the USDA Census of Ag, there are more than 65,000 farms here in Minnesota, more than 25 million acres of farmland. But that's not the only reason Minnesota was perfect timing for this festival. Since the '80s, Minnesota has worked right alongside Farm Aid and farm advocates, modeling rural advocacy, sustainable ag and forward-thinking policy reform."
Jennifer: "But just like farmers across the nation, Minnesota agriculture is grappling with corporate power, a changing climate, inadequate policy protections and food insecurity. These issues are not new. Which is why, even though Willie, John and Neil may have planned it to be a one-time concert back in 1985, Farm Aid has been here for 40 years... The first Farm Aid concert sparked a national conversation about the farm crisis, rallying artists, farmers and fans to support family farms in a moment of profound hardship... That we are still here demonstrates that lifting the voices of family farmers remains critically important to addressing the ongoing challenges of our food system."
Sharlette: "We are humbled, but don't take our humility for weakness... We did this together, y'all. We did this together, farmers, artists, fans, donors, all the people who care about family farms."
Jennifer: "Farm Aid uses our stage to support farmer-led campaigns and spotlight farm policies, policy priorities. Farm Aid amplifies the voices of farmers in legislative conversations, including the farm bill, but also way beyond. With your support, Farm Aid will continue to be strong for family farmers, connecting them here in Minnesota, across the Midwest and across the country."
Sharlette: "The legends sitting here today, Willie, Neil, John, Dave and Margo, have used and continue to use their platform to be year-round advocates for family farmers, and they have inspired other artists to do the same. This depth and length of artist commitment is unmatched in the charity world. Through music and activism, we have supported and sustained a movement for family farmers. Willie says, 'As long as there's family farmers, Farm Aid will support them.'"
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Through the rest of the program, statements by the musicians on the Farm Aid's Board were interspersed among Sharlette's and Jennifer's conversations with the farmer heroes.
Neil Young had the biggest highlight, challenging Big Ag companies to pay a "conscience tax" in the form of large donations to help Farm Aid assist farmers who have been damaged or devastated by the rise of corporate control of much of the nation's farmland. Local Food Forum earlier published an article about his statement, linked below.
John Mellencamp started his mic time by asking the audience to stand and salute Willie Nelson, who serves as Farm Aid president. He then said:
Neil Young and I, Dave, we were kids when we started this thing. We were young kids, and we had ideals about how we believe. I'm thankful that you people come and support Farm Aid every year, and I'm so thankful for Willie, who works twice as hard as me or Neil or Dave. So we owe all of this to Mr. Nelson... We wouldn't have raised a fucking dime if it wasn't for him...
We know that the farm bills that they passed in Washington are not for family farms. We know they're for large agriculture. We understand all that. And we were so naïve when we started this that we thought we would do one show and they'd pay attention to us. Willie and I went to Washington to talk in front of the Senate subcommittee on farming when this first started. Willie talked and I talked, and some fucking senator's staff got up and looked at us, [and said], 'Where's you guys' guitars?' And I looked at Willie, and I said, 'Let's get the hell out of here.' And me and him stood up and left.
Margo Price was born into an Illinois family that lost their land to the 1980s farm crisis when she was a toddler. Her family's hardships spurred her to become involved with Farm Aid as a rising country music star, and in 2021 she became the newest member of the musician board.
"My family lost their farm in 1985, which was the year of the first Farm Aid, and I saw how affected they were, emotionally, physically, financially, mentally. I mean, we know farmer suicide rates are through the roof, and it's so important for us to come together.
"Right now, this time in America, we're being divided, being distracted. Our voices are being silenced. You know, they want us to be overwhelmed. They want us to be fighting with each other so we don't realize that it's the people in power that are making all of these things terrible.
"We have to use our voice while we still have it. I think shared struggle builds solidarity and hope is an act of resistance. Keep fighting."
Dave Matthews was the last artist to speak. He seconded Neil Young's call for a "conscience tax" on big agricultural businesses, and was sharply critical of both Big Ag and the wealthiest Americans.
I really like what Neil said about a conscience tax... We could spread a little bit of the wealth in this country to the people that deserve it, and maybe take a little bit away from the people that are hoarding it.
I'm also an immigrant [born in South Africa], and I've been very fortunate in this country. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love and be compensated, overcompensated, for doing what I love, and so I'm very happy to pay my taxes. I wouldn't mind if they raised my taxes and at the same time, raised the taxes of billionaires, maybe that conscience tax. But I would love my taxes to go to school lunches and after-school programs. I would love my taxes to help take care of people who need it. I would love my taxes to keep family farmers and farmers on the land to help my family and my planet, our planet, stay healthy. I would love to pay taxes for those reasons...
I'm so inspired every year and see all these brave and obstinate people that are keeping our planet healthy. It's a matter of life and death. I think corporate farming, like corporate profit, like the billionaire class, is a death cult. It is a death cult, and it's destroying our planet. And I think that farmers that look after the earth and care for the land and care for the food they produce and sell to our families, those people are the life cult, and we need to choose life...
As noted above, a followup will focus on the stories of this year's farmer heroes.
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