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Farm Aid 2005 Presented By Silk Soymilk Marks 20 Years of Aid and Activism

Posted on: Monday, 19 September 2005, 21:00 CDT

TINLEY PARK, Ill., Sept. 19 /U.S. Newswire -- Performers at Farm Aid 2005 Presented by Silk Soymilk urged the sold-out crowd to support farm families devastated by Hurricane Katrina and to continue the fight for family farmers and good food that was launched two decades ago. The nation's largest family farm advocacy organization celebrated its 20th anniversary with a benefit concert at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Ill., outside Chicago, not far from the site of the first Farm Aid, where the music and the movement began.

"It feels good to bring Farm Aid back to the state where it all started-and to see the seeds that were planted in Champaign in 1985 take root all over the country," said Farm Aid founder and President Willie Nelson. "The resilience and perseverance of America's farm families are helping to build a new system of agriculture."

The day-long show grossed $1.3 million in ticket sales and played to a crowd of more than 28,000. The Farm Aid concert was broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio and Webcast on http://www.farmaid.org. The show was videotaped and is scheduled to be broadcast starting on Thanksgiving Day, November, 24. The broadcast will air on INHD2, iN DEMAND's high definition network, and will be available to millions of cable subscribers on Video- on-Demand or Pay-Per-View.

Farm Aid originated in response to a man-made crisis in the 1980s and has remained true to its mission since the beginning. The organization has continued to support family farmers through threats from storms to droughts to factory farms, and has given family farmers a voice that calls for a family-farm food system. The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina was fresh in the minds of performers and fans, many of whom donated food and funds to Farm Aid's Family Farm Disaster Fund, which has already granted $50,000 to farmers in the Delta, as well as those who are battling a severe drought in the Midwest. The food collected from concertgoers was shipped to the Delta at the conclusion of the show.

Individuals can contribute to Farm Aid's disaster fund on-line at http://www.farmaid.org or by calling 1-800-FARM-AID.

Executive Director Carolyn Mugar says this growing support is transforming into a "good food" movement.

"The 20th anniversary of Farm Aid is coinciding with the energy and hope of a good food movement. Farm Aid is here to promote food from family farms and to raise money to build this movement. Changing what we buy and eat changes the system behind it," said Mugar.

Today, Nelson joined co-founders John Mellencamp and Neil Young, as well as Farm Aid board member Dave Matthews on the Farm Aid 20th anniversary stage, calling on concertgoers and viewers from home to choose food from family farms. Other performers included Kenny Chesney, Wilco, Buddy Guy with John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Arlo Guthrie, Los Lonely Boys, Emmylou Harris, Susan Tedeschi, Katie Voegele, James McMurty, Congressman Collin Peterson, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, Kathleen Edwards, Supersuckers and Shannon Brown.

For two decades, Farm Aid has traveled the country, supporting local organizations working to strengthen and promote family farms. Farm Aid's efforts have established a platform for family farmers to help create a movement that increases the supply and demand for family farm-identified food. Farm Aid's vision is to offer as many opportunities as possible for farmers to provide us with good products-food and alternative fuels that protect our land, our health and our environment.

Viewers at home were able to join the 20th anniversary celebration by logging on to www.farmaid.org for a live, streaming Webcast. The Webcast was hosted by Jim Braude of New England Cable Network and 96.9 Talk Radio of Boston, Mass. and featured the 10:30 a.m. press conference in addition to live coverage of the music with exclusive backstage footage and interviews. The high-definition Farm Aid television special to begin broadcasting on Thanksgiving Day was produced by Ambassador Entertainment, Inc.

Farm Aid 2005 Presented by Silk Soymilk was sponsored by Silk Soymilk, Chipotle, DaimlerChrysler, Horizon Organic, Organic Valley, Wild Oats, Organic Trade Association, Chicago Sun-Times, American Apparel, Pet Promise, Ben & Jerry's, XM Radio, Dr. Hauschka, Marketing Management Inc., Chouinard, Toy Farmer, GRACE and Healthy Times Baby.

Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001. Farm Aid has raised more than $27 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. Through public education and direct grants, Farm Aid supports national, regional and local efforts to build and strengthen family farm food systems. Farm Aid promotes sustainable agriculture, fights factory farms, advocates for fair farm prices, and provides credit counseling and direct assistance to farm families.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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