Farm Aid to Celebrate 40 Years with First Minneapolis Concert

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Farm Aid, the annual concert dedicated to supporting family farmers, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This marks the first time the event will take place in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Founded by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp in 1985, Farm Aid was established to address the challenges faced by American family farmers. The inaugural concert raised over $7 million to help farmers manage mounting debts and declining land values, raising awareness of the agricultural crisis. For four decades, it has evolved into an annual festival focusing on advocacy for sustainable farming practices.

This year’s lineup includes iconic performances by Farm Aid board members Nelson, Young, and Mellencamp, along with Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Billy Strings, and others. As stated by Nelson, “Family farmers are the heart of this country, and we depend on each other for good food and strong communities.” The concert aims to reinforce support for local farmers and create awareness about food systems.

Jennifer Fahy, co-executive director of Farm Aid, highlighted the significance of this year’s event. “Our anniversary marks a critical time for the nation to come together in support of the family farmers we all depend on,” she said. The festival will also feature HOMEGROWN Concessions®, offering attendees food produced by farmers who utilize ecological practices.

Tickets for Farm Aid 40 will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CDT on Friday, May 16, with presale tickets available starting May 14. Prices range from $101 to $390. Further details can be found on the official Farm Aid website.