I was a college student when the first Farm Aid happened, and it was an exciting time. We really were trying to figure out how to go. And we thought it would happen. It didn't, but the build-up was a lot of fun. The fact that we ultimately did NOT attend was, for me, merely a mild disappointment. In the back of my mind, I wasn't confident it would happen.

1985 -- Band Aid, USA for Africa, Live Aid...and Then Came Farm Aid

But no matter, the advent of Farm Aid was, at its core, a welcome boon to struggling farmers nationwide. Outside of its core, it was a massive music festival with a wide mix of on-stage talent that could please just about anyone. It was 1985, a year that saw so many superstars open their hearts and share their amazing talents. We'd already had Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", USA for Africa's "We Are the World", and the massive bi-continental Live Aid. It was a perfect time for the inaugural Farm Aid. And there are so many performance examples available, but I'm partial to this one:

Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, Farm Aid has raised more than $70 million "to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture," according to farmaid.org.

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The Farm Aid Mission

Here, you'll see comments--both in sit-down interview form and from the stage--from Farm Aid driving forces Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews:

Farm Aid 2023 -- the When and the Where

The enormous benefit concert and festival has never been held in the same place in consecutive years, but there have been revisits...like 2023, for example. This year, Farm Aid returns to Noblesville IN for the first time since 2001.

I have never been but I've known folks who have worked the event and they've never forgotten it. Maybe this is the year YOU make the unforgettable journey.

Farm Aid happens September 23rd, 2023 at the Ruoff Music Center. The doors will open at noon.

[SOURCE: WLKY-Louisville]

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