Roots Report

Okee dokee folks … “Happy Farm Aid!” is a phrase that was exclaimed by performers and fans many times over the day at the sold out, 39th annual Farm Aid concert in Saratoga Springs, NY. I should correct myself here though, Farm Aid is much more than a concert. It’s more of a day of awareness with a great live soundtrack. The day started with a press conference about Farm Aid and the status of family farming. This has become my favorite part of the festival. Farmers, Farm Aid staff and the board – Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and Margo Price, all took seats on the stage and addressed the crowd with the latest news. Farm Aid president and founder, Willie Nelson, told the audience “Farmers are doing right by their communities, just as they always have, but if we’re going to get the food systems that we need, we all have to work together to support their efforts.”

Farmers told both inspiring and troubling stories about how they started and what hurdles they have to clear to sustain their farms. It was mentioned that there are currently about 30,000 farms in New York State, a number that has dropped by 10% over the past couple of years. Many of the farmers noted that climate change has affected their ability to successfully grow crops. Other issues plaguing local farmers are rising labor costs and the growing competition of corporations with factory farms. Board member Margo Price mentioned how her family had a farm and she witnessed firsthand the struggles of sustaining a family farm. She compared it to the current state of the music industry. “Don’t get me started on the music business … but please, visit a farmers market and go out and vote!” One of the farmers spoke by Zoom explaining how “food is the universal unifier.” An indigenous farmer talked about the tradition of preserving seeds, the relationship with the land, regenerative agriculture, and organic farming. John Mellencamp revisited how the white man settled in America by throwing indigenous people off the land. Those colonists claimed the land, and are now trying to evict immigrants from the same land they were immigrants on only a few centuries ago. He added that his sister is a farmer and she developed breast cancer from agricultural chemicals, finishing by saying, “If you want a better world it starts with you!”

Neil Young pointed to a red “Stop Factory Farms” shirt he spotted on an audience member and responded with the statement “We are fighting for the life of the Earth. Factory farms are not the natural way and are adding to climate change.” He added, “Think about what you are doing, especially when you are in your ‘fossil mobile’ because it is damaging the Earth.” Dave Matthews said that we should take back the food systems from corporate America and mentioned, “We have the technology to save the Earth but greed stops it – corporate greed. It’s revolutionary to grow food!” This was met with a rousing round of applause.

The panel concluded by encouraging attendees to visit the food stands, booths, panel discussions, and workshops. The Homegrown Village engaged festival-goers with hands-on activities about water, wild plant identification, energy, food, and farming. Some of the presentations on the Farmyard stage included topics such as food access, soil health, and climate change. All of the food sold in the Homegrown Concessions area was organically grown by local farmers. Then the music started. A marathon of amazing musicians kept the Farm Aid soundtrack playing for nearly ten hours. Kontiwennenháwi, Wisdom Indian Dancers, Jesse Welles, Cassandra Lewis, Southern Avenue, Joy Oladokun, Charley Crockett, Lukas Nelson with The Travelin’ McCourys w/special guest Del McCoury, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Mavis Staples, Margo Price, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson & Family filled the amphitheater throughout the day with barely a lull between acts. This musical potpourri wrapped with many of the performers joining Wille Nelson & Family for a rousing finale. Over the past 39 years, Farm Aid has raised over 80 million dollars to support programs that help farmers. Most importantly they are spreading the message that family-owned farms and healthily sustained farmland using organic techniques are what the planet needs to survive and thrive. •

Farm Aid accepts donations year-round and merchandise sales also support the cause. For more about future Farm Aid events plow over to farmaid.org That’s it for now. Listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/ rootsreportpodcast and find my Farm Aid photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks. johnfuzek.com

Picture: Willie Nelson and Family