Farm Aid Returns To Indianapolis Sept. 29

Farm Aid
Tuesday, 17 April 2001

2001 Family Farm Benefit Concert to Feature Founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Indiana Native John Mellencamp

Farm Aid 2001 is coming to Indianapolis.

The family farm advocacy organization announced today that it will bring its benefit concert back to Indianapolis for Farm Aid 2001. The event is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Ind., just outside Indianapolis.

This year founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Indiana native John Mellencamp are set to perform. Farm Aid first came to Indiana for Farm Aid IV back in 1990.

"I'm proud to bring Farm Aid back home to Indiana, America's heartland," said Mellencamp. "The enthusiasm and support for farmers in this part of the country is what inspires us all to keep working to protect rural America and all of the farms, families and small businesses that make this country thrive."

In addition to raising funds, Mellencamp, Nelson and Young hope the concert will remind people about the critical role that family farmers play in providing safe, fresh, healthy food for all Americans. Farm Aid President Nelson says now more than ever we need to show our policymakers that families should be farming our land, not corporations.

"We're calling on folks from Indiana and around the country to show our leaders that there is more support than ever for family farmers," Nelson said. "I want to thank the people of Indianapolis for having us back and helping us ensure that families, not big corporations, are in charge of supplying our dinner tables with food that is safe, fresh and healthy."

Nelson said America's food system is heading for a crisis, because federal policymakers have allowed corporations to gain control of food production, unbeknownst to most consumers. Current farm policies are promoting chronic overproduction of grain, livestock and dairy products, which forces the family farmer to sell products for much less than it costs to produce them. The average farmer earns only $7,000 annually from on-farm income, and among all livelihoods in the country, family farmers are facing the greatest decline.

Ticket sales and additional information for Farm Aid 2001 will be updated on Farm Aid's Web site, www.farmaid.com.

Farm Aid was founded in 1985 by Nelson, Mellencamp and Young to raise public awareness about the plight of the American family farmer and to provide assistance to those families whose livelihood depends on agriculture. In the past 16 years, Farm Aid has granted nearly $16 million to more than 100 farm organizations, churches and service agencies in 44 states. Since 1985, Farm Aid has granted $202,000 to aid Indiana farmers. In 2000, Farm Aid granted $5,000 to Indiana Citizens Action Coalition.

For more information, or to contact Farm Aid, see their website at: www.farmaid.org