22 September 2025

On 22 September 1985, today 40 years ago the first edition
of FARM AID was held at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL.

The star-studded event featured performances by big names such as
Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, B.B. King,
Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Neil Young.

The inspiration behind Farm Aid came a few months earlier at the Live Aid concert,
during which Bob Dylan spoke about the crisis facing family farmers – many of whom
were in danger of losing their farms due to massive mortgage debts.

The impassioned speech inspired fellow singer-songwriters Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young to organize the now long-running annual benefit concert. Roughly 80,000 music fans attended and raised over $9 million for US family farmers.

FULL CONCERT