Farm Aid: Famous Musicians Aid Family Farmers

"Wouldn't it be great if we did something for our own farmers right here in America?"

Those were the words spoken by musician Bob Dylan, during the Live Aid concert held at various locations around the world on July 13 1985.

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp heard Dylan's call and founded Farm Aid in 1985 in hopes of raising awareness and funds to support family farmers across America. Farm Aid concerts have been held from Nebraska, to Indiana, to Texas and, most recently to Camden New Jersey on September 30, where Farm Aid 2006 was located.

"The fight to save family farms isn't just about farmers," said Nelson, president of Farm Aid. "It's about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply for all of us. It's about jobs. From Main Street to Wall Street. It's about a better America."

Farm Aid believes that family farmers are the only guarantee for fres, local food. Their mission is to keep family farmers on their land and their goal is to bring together family farmers and citizens to restore family farm-centered agriculture.

Farm Aid accomplishes their mission by awarding grants to farmer and rural service organizations, developing and funding programs that promote outreach, education, and development of long-term solutions to support family farms, and building partnerships and educating the public to raise funds to promote activism in support of family farmers.

The primary tool Farm Aid uses is an annual signature concert.

Dave Matthews, who joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001, was the first headliner to play the 2006 concert at the Tweeter Centre, which is right across the Delaware river from Philadelphia.

Opening acts included Jerry Lee Lewis, The Los Lonely Boys, and Government Mule, among others.

Matthews played a solo, mostly acoustic set and entertained the crowd with some of his classics including "Everyday", "Gravedigger", and an electric guitar lullaby "Some Devil".

Mellencamp followed Matthews with a set that revisited the 1980's including performances of anthems "Pink Houses", "Rain on the Scarecrow" and an extended version of "Authority Song" to keep the crowd rocking.

Young enchanted the crowd with his distinctive vocals and perfected sound, performing "Harvest Moon", "Four Strong Winds", and "Field of Opportunity". Nelson also appeared on stage for Young's performance of "Homegrown".

Nelson wrapped-up the show in traditional style, playing his hits "City of New Orleans", "Whiskey River", "Good Hearted-Woman", and "On The Road Again".

Never lost amongst the incredible musical performances by every artist, was the message that Farm Aid wanted to deliver. Matthews was one of the few to state the purpose of the show during his actual performance.

"Every farm should be run by a family. People who love the earth," Matthews said. "There ain't nothing better than a good tomato."

Canadians can relate to the purpose of Farm Aid as well, as factory farms are taking over family farms north of the United States.

A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) report indicated that huge hog barns are being championed as the future of pig farming. One swine operation can churn out up to 15,000 pigs a year, thus doubling pig production in Manitoba in the last decade.

One farmer told CBC that it is not normal farming going on and that it is an industry. Hog barns store gallons of liquid manure in untreated, open-air lagoons, sometimes as big as a football field.

Farmers say that the current practices of these factory farms is very dangerous for the environment.