Who introduced the first Farm Aid concert? Details explored as the festival turns 40

Farm Aid, an annual benefit concert for farmers that started in 1985, is turning forty this year. The concert is held every year in the United States, and it benefits family farmers. It was founded by the three musicians: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp.

The concert aims to raise awareness and funds to help American farmers who are going through hard times. The first concert took place on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, and as per Farm Aid, the concert raised more than $7 million in funds.

Other than helping farmers, the Farm Aid concerts also shed light on environmental issues such as climate change and social issues.

The Farm Aid festival turns 40

On September 20, 2025, the Farm Aid festival will turn forty. The festival was started in 1985 in response to the crisis that farmers in America faced in the 1980s. The festival has been running since 1985, and every year the funds collected go to support the local farmers.

The festival this year will be held at the Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Willie Nelson, one of the founding members, shared his thoughts in a statement on celebrating the festival's 40th anniversary, as per Billboard. He said,

''Family farmers are the heart of this country, and we depend on each other for good food and strong communities. For 40 years, Farm Aid and our partners have stood with farmers, supporting them to stay on their land even when corporate power, bad policies and broken promises make it harder to keep going.''

He continued,

''This year, we’re proud to bring Farm Aid to Minnesota to celebrate the farmers who sustain us and to fight for a food system that works for all of us. Family farmers aren’t backing down, and neither are we.''

The festival this year will be headlined by Nelson, along with Neil Young, who will be performing with his band, Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and Margo Price. Other artists and bands included in the lineup are Madeline Edwards, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Jesse Welles, and Eric Burton of Black Pumas.

Last month, Nelson and the agriculturist, David Senter, addressed the rising farmers of America on the Farm Aid website. They wrote,

''The commitment you’re making to your families, your communities, and our water, soil and climate is not an easy one—and it never has been. We want you to know that, even with the wave of uncertainty farmers are facing right now, the work you’re doing has never been more critical for our country.''

It further read,

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''All farmers — no matter their age, background, politics, location, size, type or production methods — must call on each other in these challenging times. We invite you to call on us, and hope that you will answer when we call on you. We’re in this together and it’s only together that we will get through.''

The presale tickets for the festival will be available from May 14, 2025, at 10 am CDT.

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