Decade-long wave of charity in popular music triggered by a significant Bob Dylan event 40 years ago.
In the heart of 1985, concerns about the plight of family farmers were echoing across the United States. The Maine Democrat, Chellie Pingree, voiced her worry about the administration potentially taking away $3 billion allocated for farmers to purchase food for school lunches and food banks.
Pingree's comments struck a chord, particularly among rural Republicans, who were grappling with the effects of climate change, extreme weather, trade wars, and cuts to USDA support staff. This frustration inspired a notable figure, Willie Nelson, while he was watching Live Aid.
Nelson, along with Neil Young and John Cougar Mellencamp, took action and organised Farm Aid 1 in Champaign, Illinois. The event, held in the same year, marked the beginning of 40 years of mission-driven music festivals.
Farm Aid 1 was an inclusive event, accommodating both patriotic and protest bands. The parade of music hall of famers included Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. George Jones and Rick James are among the 500 acts that have performed at Farm Aid since its inception.
The concert was instrumental in raising the modern equivalent of $20 million, providing much-needed support for family farmers facing financial difficulties. Over the years, Farm Aid has been supporting the Agriculture Resilience Act, championed by congresswoman Chellie Pingree.
Seth Kroeck, a Maine farmer, highlighted the historical issue of farmers being told to get big or get out and the current struggle of small farmers to make ends meet. Kroeck also pointed out the lack of support for small-scale growers of fresh staples like berries and lettuce compared to large-scale growers of commodity crops.
The events leading up to Live Aid, a bicontinental mega-concert, were inspired by these struggles faced by farmers. During Live Aid, Bob Dylan mentioned the possibility of using a portion of the funds raised to help pay mortgages on farms owed to banks.
Bob Geldof, inspired by the Farm Aid movement, assembled a British supergroup to help save families starving in drought-stricken Ethiopia. Geldof's efforts led to the creation of Band Aid, "Do They Know It's Christmas," and USA for Africa's "We Are The World."
Throughout the years, Willie Nelson has been blogging about the challenges family farmers face, including weather uncertainties, market fluctuations, and policies favouring large corporations. Nelson's advocacy continues to resonate with farmers and music enthusiasts alike, keeping the spirit of Farm Aid alive.
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