Farm Aid Donates $730K In 2017

Farm Aid announced it has distributed more than $730,000 in grant funding in 2017, investing in organizations building resilient systems of agriculture and food.  

Rob Grabowski / Invision / AP – Farm Aid 2015 stage
John Mellencamp performs at Farm Aid 30 at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago Sept. 19.

According to Farm Aid, the organization has granted $732,351 to 83 family farm, rural service and urban agriculture organizations in 34 states and the District of Columbia, as well as to more than 60 farmers and youth for leadership development. Farm Aid also made grants to 297 farm families for emergency and natural disaster relief.

“With the 2018 Farm Bill quickly approaching, it is critical that family farmers are organized and their voices are heard,” said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. “We are honored to partner with grassroots organizations that build resilient systems of agriculture to combat the impacts of natural disasters and climate change; work for fair policies that work for family farmers and eaters; fight discrimination in our farm and food system; protect our soil and water; and ensure everyone has access to fresh, healthy foods.”

The 2018 Farm Bill could have ramifications on food stamps programs, crop insurance, trade policy and overall cuts to the USDA.

Farm aid held its annual music festival at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pa., in September, and donated $50,500 to eight local programs to support family farmers and grow the “Good Food Movement.”

Awardees included the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks in Ohio, Fayette County Community Action Agency in Pennsylvania, Grow Pittsburgh, Keystone Development Center in Pennsylvania, and the Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association, among others.

Artists on this year’s Farm Aid, which had its first installment back in 1985, included event founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young along with Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson and many others Sept. 16.

The event sold 21,825 tickets and grossed $1.55 million, as submitted to Pollstar.

Last year’s event, which included the usual suspects along with Alabama Shakes, Sturgill Simpson, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, Margo Price and others Sept. 17 at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va., sold 19,020 tickets and grossed $1.44 million. Both were promoted by Live Nation.

Earlier this year, Farm Aid donated $18,500 to farm and ranch families who lost land, livestock and equipment to wildfires, as well as $114,500 to farm families affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Farm Aid concerts in recent years have taken place in Chicago, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Hershey, Pa., Kansas City, New York, and Milwaukee, with reports submitted to Pollstar including 2009 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Mo., which sold out at 20,285 tickets and grossed $1.09 million, 2008 at Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Mass., (18,773, $1.14 million), and 2007 at Randall’s Island in New York, which sold 27,483 tickets and grossed $1.61 million.