Farm Aid

Farm Aid started as a concert on September 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year. Nelson and Mellencamp then brought family farmers before Congress to testify about the state of family farming in America. Congress subsequently passed the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 to help save family farms from foreclosure.

Related Topics:
Concert - September 22 - 1985 - Champaign, Illinois - Farmer - United States - Willie Nelson - John Mellencamp - Bob Dylan's - Live Aid - Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 - Family farm - Foreclosure

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Today, Farm Aid is an organization that works to increase awareness of the importance of family farms, and puts on an annual concert of country, blues and rock music with a variety of stars. The board of directors includes Nelson, Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews. Young's sermons about the environment are a highlight of the annual shows.

Related Topics:
Neil Young - Dave Matthews

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The 2005 concert, marking the 20th anniversary of Farm Aid, took place in Tinley Park, Illinois, with events in downtown Chicago as well.

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