Farm-Aid-anniversary

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SOMERVILLE, Mass., March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ``Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America'' is the theme of the quarter-century anniversary of Farm Aid, the nonprofit organization led by board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews. Farm Aid's mission is to keep family farmers on the land and to create a family farm-centered food system in America. Farm Aid representatives say planning for the 25th anniversary concert and the events leading up to it is in the works. Concert events will celebrate the contribution the organization has made to supporting family farmers and showcase the positive, sustainable future that family farmers are growing through their hard work every day. All across the country, family farmers are rebuilding local and regional food systems and re-energizing the economy. ``In 1985, we started out to save the family farmer. Now it looks like the family farmer is going to save us,'' said Farm Aid president Willie Nelson. ``As our nation continues to endure an historic economic downturn, America's family farmers offer us much hope.'' The economic and employment crisis that so many Americans face today mirrors what family farmers faced during the mid-1980s, when they found themselves threatened with foreclosures, bankruptcy, and eviction from the farm. Hundreds of thousands of farms were lost. In response, the first Farm Aid concert was held in 1985, and since then, the organization has been a relentless champion for family farmers. Through the dedicated hard work of its board of directors, the support of many thousands of donors, and the nearly four hundred artists who have generously donated their time and performances, Farm Aid is now the longest running benefit concert series in America. For updates about ``Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America'', including the concert location, date, musical lineup and promotional events, visit www.farmaid.org and follow Farm Aid at www.twitter.com/farmaid. For sponsorship opportunities please contact glenda@farmaid.org. For 25 years, Farm Aid has worked to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farmed food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $36 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. SOURCE Farm Aid