Teenage Willie Nelson didn’t like picking cotton when he was growing up so he played in bands at local Texas dance halls instead.

This doesn’t mean that he didn’t appreciate the value of the family farm. Beyond becoming a country music icon when he grew up, he would also help create an organization that would help family farmers in hard times.

On Saturday, September 20, the fruits of his labor, Farm Aid, will put on one heck of a show for the 40th year. Let’s take a deeper look at the history of the event, who is performing, why family farms matter, and how to tune into the concert.

Bob Dylan inspired Farm Aid

In 1985, Bob Dylan performed at Live Aid. During his set, he talked about the struggles that American farmers face, such as high interest rates and unstable land prices.

Nelson

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