The virtual Farm Aid benefit concert, hosted by co-founder and country veteran Willie Nelson, raised over $500,000 last weekend in support of family farmers impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
At Home with Farm Aid took place on April 11th and saw remote performances by Willie, his two sons, Lukas and Micah Nelson, as well as co-founders Neil Young and John Mellencamp. Board member Dave Matthews also performed for the virtual event.
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The hard work of Farm Aid organizers, both for the annual event and throughout the year, strengthens efforts to build an agricultural system that values family farmers and strong communities. While the group was unable to stage an in-person benefit, the free virtual Farm Aid broadcast raked in donations from all 50 states and 15 countries around the globe. Funds from the benefit concert will offer struggling farmers and ranchers emergency grants and support resources via its 1-800-FARM-AID hotline. Furthermore, some funding will also go towards advocating at the federal level for much-needed crisis relief.
Said Nelson in a statement, “The coronavirus has disrupted our entire country and is a grave threat to all of us. One of its many impacts is that it has helped us to better see the value of essential people like healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, and farmers and ranchers.” He continued, “Farm Aid has worked for 35 years to build a family farm centered agricultural system, and we are here now to support farmers and ranchers in this crisis, without whom we could not eat. The time to build a resilient family farm food system is now!”
For more information on Farm Aid, and to donate, click here.
Additionally, read more about other organizations aiding in pandemic relief here.
[H/TÂ Billboard]