Farm Aid started as a concert on September 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. Nelson and Mellencamp then brought family farmers before Congress to testify about the state of family farming in America. Congress subsequently passed the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 to help save family farms from foreclosure.
Today, Farm Aid is an organization that works to increase awareness of the importance of family farms, and puts on an annual concert of country, blues and rock music with a variety of stars. The board of directors includes Nelson, Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews. Young's sermons about the environment are a highlight of the annual shows.
List of concerts
As of 2004, Farm Aid concerts have been held in the following locations:
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September 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois
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July 4, 1986 in Austin, Texas
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September 19, 1987 in Lincoln, Nebraska
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April 7, 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana
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March 14, 1992 in Irving, Texas
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April 24, 1993 in Ames, Iowa
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September 18, 1994 New Orleans, Louisiana
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October 1, 1995 in Louisville, Kentucky
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October 12, 1996 in Columbia, South Carolina
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October 4, 1997 in Tinley Park, Illinois
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October 3, 1998 in Tinley Park, Illinois
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September 12, 1999 in Bristow, Virginia
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September 17, 2000 in Bristow, Virginia
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September 29, 2001 Noblesville, Indiana
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September 21, 2002 Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
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September 7, 2003 in Columbus, Ohio
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September 18, 2004 in Seattle, Washington
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