Farm Aid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Farm Aid |
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| Location(s) | United States |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Founded by | Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young |
Farm Aid is a yearly benefit concert that raises money to help farmers across the United States. It was started by musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young. The goal of Farm Aid is to support family farmers and make sure they can continue to provide food for the country.
Contents
How Farm Aid Started
An Idea at Live Aid
The idea for Farm Aid began at another famous concert. On July 13, 1985, musician Bob Dylan was performing at Live Aid, a concert to help people facing a famine in Ethiopia. During his performance, Dylan talked about the struggles of American farmers.
Many family farmers were in danger of losing their farms because they owed money to banks. Dylan suggested that some of the money raised could be used to help these farmers. He said, "I hope that some of the money... maybe they can just take a little bit of it... to pay the mortgages on some of the farms and, the farmers here, owe to the banks."
Musicians Take Action
Dylan's comments inspired his friends Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young. They decided to organize a concert just for American farmers.
The very first Farm Aid concert was held on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois. A huge crowd of 80,000 people came to watch. The show featured many famous performers, including Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Loretta Lynn, and Tom Petty. The concert was a big success and raised over $9 million.
More Than Just a Concert
When they started, the founders hoped one concert would be enough to solve the problem. But they soon learned that the challenges for family farmers were very complicated. Because of this, Farm Aid became an annual event.
Today, Farm Aid is a non-profit organization that works all year long. It is led by a board of directors that includes the founders Nelson, Mellencamp, and Young, as well as musician Dave Matthews. In 2021, singer Margo Price also joined the board.
How Farm Aid Helps
Farm Aid does more than just put on a show. The organization provides support to farmers in many ways:
- Emergency Hotline: Farm Aid runs a phone hotline that farmers can call for advice and resources when they face problems.
- Speaking to the Government: In the early days, Nelson and Mellencamp brought farmers to speak before the U.S. Congress. They shared their stories, which helped Congress pass the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. This law was created to help protect family farms from being taken by banks.
- Disaster Relief: The organization has a disaster fund to help farmers who are affected by natural disasters like hurricanes or floods. The money helps them pay for expenses and provides food, legal help, and support.
Famous Concerts Through the Years
Farm Aid has been held in many different cities across the country. Each year, a mix of country, rock, and blues artists perform to support the cause.
- The 20th-anniversary concert in 2005 was held near Chicago.
- In 2007, the concert came to New York City for the first time, taking place on Randall's Island.
- The 2019 concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin featured country star Luke Combs for the first time.
- In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert was held online as "At Home with Farm Aid," with musicians performing from their homes.
- The 2023 concert in Indiana had a surprise guest: Bob Dylan, who hadn't performed at Farm Aid since 1986.
The People Behind Farm Aid
The board of directors guides the work of the Farm Aid organization. The members are dedicated to helping family farmers.
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John Mellencamp
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See also
In Spanish: Farm Aid para niños
- 1980s farm crisis
- List of highest-grossing benefit concerts
