Denise Venner remembers the 1985 inaugural Farm Aid benefit concert taking place in Champaign, Illinois, just 30 miles from where she then lived and farmed.
Pierre-area organic farmer Mark Venner, left, Dakota Rural Action senior organizer Chase Jensen and others interact with festivalgoers at Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 20.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Willie speaks
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Willie Nelson talks to the crowd between songs at the Farm Aid encore. Nelson founded Farm Aid in 1985, making this year's show the 40th anniversary. “John [Mellencamp], Neil [Young] and I could never have imagined the movement that grew from that first show,” Nelson said in a news release. “We’ve stood with our partners all these years to give farmers — the hardest working people in America — the support they need to survive against impossible odds. Their willingness to keep going is why we have to keep going. Farmers need us, and we will always need them.”
Farm Aid founders
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
John Mellencamp points to fellow Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson with Neil Young by his side during a press event at Farm Aid 40 Sept. 20. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food.
A grand finale
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Artists gather on stage for a finale at Farm Aid 40. The anniversary festival featured performances from founders Nelson and Family, Young (with the Chrome Hearts), and John Mellencamp, along with artist board members Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds) and Margo Price. The lineup also included Bob Dylan, Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Trampled by Turtles, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and Wisdom Indian Dancers.
Nathaniel Rateliff belts it out
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Nathaniel Rateliff performs at Farm Aid 40. Farm Aid 40 united food producers, artists, advocates and fans to invigorate support for America’s family farmers in the face of low prices, high input costs, decreasing global markets, corporate consolidation and climate disruption.
John Mellencamp
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
John Mellencamp raises the microphone during his set at Farm Aid. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $85 million to support programs that help farmers.
Margo Price on the stage
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid board member Margo Price performs at the 40th anniversary concert Sept. 20 in Minneapolis. She brought Jesse Welles and Billy Strings on stage for a rendition of “Maggie’s Farm” by Bob Dylan.
Panelists talk ag issues
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Members of a panel speak during a Farm Aid event Sept. 20. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, Farm Aid hosted multiple partner events, including a Farmer Forum that featured a full day of conversations about the work happening within our farm movement.
Supporting farmers
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid visitors pose for a picture at the Homegrown Village, which featured hands-on activities about climate, soil, water, energy, food and farming. Activities included scavenger hunts, dried flower button making, checking out soil health with microscopes, local food screen print creation and much more.
Farm Aid in photos
Farm Aid marked its 40th anniversary Sept. 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, celebrating a movement born from what was intended to be a one-time concert in 1985. The anniversary coincides with a moment when family farmers are facing the worst economic and environmental pressures in decades, echoing the crisis of the 1980s.
FarmAid draws 37K for 40th anniversary event
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid's 40th anniversary concert drew a crowd of 37,000 to Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Sept. 20.
Willie speaks
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Willie Nelson talks to the crowd between songs at the Farm Aid encore. Nelson founded Farm Aid in 1985, making this year's show the 40th anniversary. “John [Mellencamp], Neil [Young] and I could never have imagined the movement that grew from that first show,” Nelson said in a news release. “We’ve stood with our partners all these years to give farmers — the hardest working people in America — the support they need to survive against impossible odds. Their willingness to keep going is why we have to keep going. Farmers need us, and we will always need them.”
Steve Earle takes the stage
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Steve Earle takes the stage at Farm Aid Sept. 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Farm Aid founders
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
John Mellencamp points to fellow Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson with Neil Young by his side during a press event at Farm Aid 40 Sept. 20. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food.
Dakota Rural Action at Farm Aid
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Members of Dakota Rural Action interact with festivalgoers at their Farm Aid Homegrown Village booth.
A grand finale
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Artists gather on stage for a finale at Farm Aid 40. The anniversary festival featured performances from founders Nelson and Family, Young (with the Chrome Hearts), and John Mellencamp, along with artist board members Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds) and Margo Price. The lineup also included Bob Dylan, Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Trampled by Turtles, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and Wisdom Indian Dancers.
Neil Young on the keys
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Neil Young performs with the Chrome Hearts at Farm Aid 40.
FFA concert wear
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
A concertgoer sports a North Dakota FFA jacket at Farm Aid 40.
Nathaniel Rateliff belts it out
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Nathaniel Rateliff performs at Farm Aid 40. Farm Aid 40 united food producers, artists, advocates and fans to invigorate support for America’s family farmers in the face of low prices, high input costs, decreasing global markets, corporate consolidation and climate disruption.
John Mellencamp
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
John Mellencamp raises the microphone during his set at Farm Aid. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $85 million to support programs that help farmers.
Love from Willie
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid founder and president Willie Nelson plants a kiss on Margo Price as other board members and founders look on: John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews.
Wynonna's winning smile
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Wynonna Judd performs at Farm Aid in Minneapolis Sept. 20. For the first time in Farm Aid’s history, CNN broadcast the festival nationwide.
Trampled by Turtles
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Erik Berry plays mandolin with Duluth-based Trampled By Turtles at Farm Aid in Minneapolis Sept. 20.
Gov. Walz addresses the crowd
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz talks from the Farm Aid stage Sept. 20 in Minneapolis.
Margo Price on the stage
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid board member Margo Price performs at the 40th anniversary concert Sept. 20 in Minneapolis. She brought Jesse Welles and Billy Strings on stage for a rendition of “Maggie’s Farm” by Bob Dylan.
Madeline Edwards performs
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Singer-songwriter Madeline Edwards plays an afternoon set at Farm Aid 40.
Lukas Nelson plays with Dave
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Lukas Nelson, right, fist bumps Dave Matthews during his set at Farm Aid 40.
Jesse Welles on the stage
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Arkansas-based folk artist Jesse Welles performs at FarmAid 40.
Dave Matthews plays with Tim Reynolds
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Tim Reynolds and Dave Matthews perform at Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis.
Panelists talk ag issues
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Members of a panel speak during a Farm Aid event Sept. 20. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, Farm Aid hosted multiple partner events, including a Farmer Forum that featured a full day of conversations about the work happening within our farm movement.
Bille Strings on the strings
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Michigan-raised artist Bille Strings performs at Farm Aid 40.
Cheers from the crowd
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid concertgoers cheer from the crowd at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Supporting farmers
- Tri-State Neighbor photo by Dave Bordewyk
Farm Aid visitors pose for a picture at the Homegrown Village, which featured hands-on activities about climate, soil, water, energy, food and farming. Activities included scavenger hunts, dried flower button making, checking out soil health with microscopes, local food screen print creation and much more.
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