On October 2nd, Farm Aid fans gathered at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to watch artists including Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, and Kenny Chesney perform for a good cause. This was the first year the annual Farm Aid concert was in Wisconsin.
Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization and is the longest running benefit concert in America. It started in 1985. Since then, the concert has raised more than $37 million to help family farmers thrive across the country, as well as spread the word about the Good Food movement.
Farm Aid, held in a different state or venue each year, is hosted to spread awareness for keeping family farmers on their land. Family farmers help increase the “good” produce sold to people all over America. Keeping family farming businesses together to help provide for others is a vital and often overlooked aspect of the food industry.
John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Neil Young have been headlining the event since 1985. Dave Matthews Band has been headlining since 2001. Each year, these four artists, as well as a dozen others, gather to raise money for this cause.
“Just as rock and roll is loud and proud, so is Farm Aid,” said performer Neil Young to farmaid.org. “Farm Aid's greatest accomplishment, I believe, is in the spirit. It's the fact that we represent the spirit of the good fight, to keep something good happening. It just keeps getting stronger and stronger.”
This year, Farm Aid hosted a food drive, asking all concert-goers to bring non-perishable food items, donating to the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force. While Farm Aid provides support for family farms across the country, it also raises awareness for the hungry and donates food items in each city they travel to.
“’Growing Hope for America’ was the slogan. It was really cool how many people showed up to give money to farmers around America to promote keeping food chemical free and locally grown,” said senior, Claire Lichte, who attended Farm Aid this past weekend.
Tickets for the shows normally cost between $30-$100 for one ticket. This year, the cost ranged from $39.50 to $97.50, not including parking, food, drinks, apparel or other convenience charges.