National Farm Aid Concert Will Take Place in Seattle September 18

THE AGRIBUSINESS EXAMINER
August 3, 2004, Issue #363 Monitoring Corporate Agribusiness From a Public Interest Perspective

EDITOR\PUBLISHER; A.V. Krebs
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GO WEST MUSICIANS !!!
FARM AID 2004 CONCERT TO BE STAGED IN SEATTLE AREA ON SEPTEMBER 18

PAUL DE BARROS, SEATTLE TIMES: Bringing its music west of the Rockies for
the first time in its 19-year history, the Farm Aid organization will hold
its annual benefit concert in the Seattle area next month.

Farm Aid 2004, a concert benefit for small farmers, will feature Farm Aid
co-founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, board member Dave
Matthews and other performers yet to be announced. It will be September 18
at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn.

"The farthest west we've ever been is Nebraska," said Farm Aid Executive
Director Carolyn Mugar. "We have a chance to reach a whole new audience and
whole new group of people. You guys have a unique situation because people
in Seattle are aware of fresh foods and farmers markets. Your state is a
perfect example of what a family-farm system of agriculture can be."

Nelson, Young and Mellencamp started Farm Aid in 1985, in response to the
high numbers of small farmers who were losing their land because of debt.
The first concert took place in Champaign, Illinois. Since then, the
organization has raised $26 million to promote the preservation of family
farms and locally controlled, sustainable agriculture.

The group provides grants to farm organizations, churches and service
agencies. It makes grants in several categories, including emergency needs,
hotlines, nonprofit legal assistance, education and organizational
development.

In 2003, Farm Aid made grants totaling $250,000 to 42 family-farm groups in
26 states. A recent $3,500 award went to the Washington Sustainable Food and
Farming Network, an advocacy organization seeking to challenge the corporate
concentration of agriculture and the introduction of genetically engineered
wheat.

Over the years, Farm Aid has evolved from an emergency organization for
individual farmers to one that deals with broader issues.

"It's the exact same issue, but through a different lens," said Mugar. "It's
about preventing the small farm from going to the auction block. And that
means keeping fresh food available locally."

At the White River benefit, Farm Aid will launch its new guide, "10 Ways to
Ensure Healthy Food for You and Your Family."

There also will be an organic-food sampling area, a Farm Aid booth and a
voter-registration booth on the grounds.

Farm Aid and local family-farm organizations also will host a series of
events at Pike Place Market during the ten days leading up to the concert.

"There are two million farmers in this country, and we are losing about 350
family farmers per week," said Farm Aid Campaign Director Mark Smith. "Our
take on that is that with the loss of every family farmer comes diminished
access to local fresh food. It also means we are more dependent on corporate
farming and food overseas. Our food imports are rising."

Last September's Farm Aid concert in Columbus, Ohio, featured Nelson, Young,
Mellencamp and Matthews, as well as Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Brooks and
Dunn and others. [ August 2, 2004 ]