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Farm Aid started as a benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year. (Dylan said, "I hope that some of the money...maybe they can just take a little bit of it, maybe...one or two million, maybe...and use it, say, to pay the mortgages on some of the farms and, the farmers here, owe to the banks....") Nelson and Mellencamp then brought family farmers before Congress to testify about the state of family farming in America. Congress subsequently passed the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 to help save family farms from foreclosure.

Today, Farm Aid is an organization that works to increase awareness of the importance of family farms, and puts on an annual concert of country, blues and rock music with a variety of stars. The board of directors includes Nelson, Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews. Young's speeches about the environment are a highlight of the annual shows.

The 2005 concert, marking the 20th anniversary of Farm Aid, took place at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Illinois, with events in downtown Chicago as well.

As of 2006, Farm Aid concerts have been held in the following locations:

• Farm Aid September 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois at Memorial Stadium
  • Lineup Included: Alabama, Hoyt Axton, The Beach Boys, Jon Bon Jovi, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, John Conlee, Charlie Daniels Band, John Denver, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Foreigner, Vince Gill, Arlo Guthrie, Sammy Hagar, Merle Haggard, Daryl Hall, Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, Waylon Jennings, Billy Joel, George Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, B.B. King, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Huey Lewis, Loretta Lynn, John Mellencamp, Roger Miller, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Charley Pride, Lou Reed, Kenny Rogers, Brian Setzer, Sissy Spacek, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Van Halen, Debra Winger, Neil Young, Dave Milsap, Joe Ely, Judy Rodman, X (US band). [1]
• Farm Aid II July 4, 1986 in Manor, Texas at Manor Downs Racetrack 10 miles east of Austin, Texas
  • Lineup Included: Alabama, The Beach Boys, Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, Steve Earle, Exile, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Emmylou Harris, Julio Iglesias, Waylon Jennings, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Steppenwolf, Taj Majal, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Walsh, Neil Young; [offsite via satellite] Bob Dylan, Tom Petty
• Farm Aid III September 19, 1987 in Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Lineup Included: Alex Harvey, Emmylou Harris, Steppenwolf, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Grateful Dead. [2]
• In 1989, FARM AID President Willie Nelson took FARM AID on the road for 16 of his own show dates.
• Farm Aid IV April 7, 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Lineup Included: Bonnie Raitt, John Mellencamp, John Hiatt, Carl Perkins, Arlo Guthrie, Garth Brooks, John Denver, Bill Monroe, Alan Jackson, Asleep at the Wheel, Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Lou Reed, Don Henley, Crosby Still & Nash, Neil Young, Guns N' Roses. [3][4]
• Farm Aid V March 14, 1992 in Irving, Texas
  • Lineup Included: Arlo Guthrie, Kentucky Headhunters, Texas Tornadoes, Bonnie Raitt, Little Village, Tracy Chapman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Petra, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, the Highwaymen, Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Van Shelton. [5]
• Farm Aid VI April 24, 1993 in Ames, Iowa
  • Lineup Included: Arlo Guthrie, The Jayhawks, Jann Arden, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Ricky Van Shelton, Willie Nelson, Kentucky Headhunters, Marty Stuart, Charlie Daniels Band, Martina McBride, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, Black 47, the Highwaymen, and Dwight Yoakam. [6][7]
• Farm Aid VII September 18, 1994 New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Lineup Included: Neville Brothers, Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms, John Conlee, Kris Kristofferson.
• Farm Aid 10th Anniversary October 1, 1995 in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Lineup Included: Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, BlackHawk, John Conlee, The Supersuckers, and Steve Earle rocked with Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young
• Farm Aid '96 October 12, 1996 in Columbia, South Carolina
  • Lineup Included: Hootie and the Blowfish, The Beach Boys, Martina McBride, John Conlee, Jewel.
• Farm Aid '97 October 4, 1997 in Tinley Park, Illinois
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Fogerty, Beck, Dave Matthews Band, The Allman Brothers Band.
• Farm Aid '98 October 3, 1998 in Tinley Park, Illinois
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, Phish, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Steve Earle, the Del McCoury Band, Wilco.
• Farm Aid '99 September 12, 1999 in Bristow, Virginia
  • Lineup Included: Susan Tedeschi, Keb’Mo’, Deana Carter, Barenaked Ladies, Dave Matthews Band, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Neil Young.
• Farm Aid 2000 September 17, 2000 in Bristow, Virginia
  • Lineup Included: Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Arlo Guthrie, Sawyer Brown, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Barenaked Ladies, Tipper Gore on drums with Willie Nelson and Family.
• Farm Aid 2001, A Concert For America September 29, 2001 Noblesville, Indiana
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Doobie Brothers, Martina McBride
• Farm Aid '02 September 21, 2002 Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
• Farm Aid '03 September 7, 2003 in Columbus, Ohio
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Emmylou Harris, Hootie & the Blowfish, Los Lonely Boys, Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, Trick Pony, Billy Bob Thornton, Daniel Lanois
• Farm Aid '04 September 18, 2004 in Seattle, Washington
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Jerry Lee Lewis, Trick Pony, Tony Coleman, Blue Merle, Tegan and Sara, Kate Voegle, Kitty Jerry, Marc Broussard.
• Farm Aid 2005, 20th Anniversary September 18, 2005 - Tweeter Center - Tinley Park, Illinois
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy, Congressman Collin Peterson and the Second Amendments, Drew Davis Band, Elizabeth Rainey, Emmylou Harris, James McMurtry, Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, John Mayer, Kate Voegele, Kathleen Edwards, Kenny Chesney, Los Lonely Boys, Shannon Brown, Supersuckers, Susan Tedeschi, Widespread Panic, and Wilco.
• Farm Aid 2006 took place on September 30, 2006 at the Tweeter Center in Camden, New Jersey
  • Lineup Included: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Jerry Lee Lewis with Roy Head, Los Lonely Boys, Arlo Guthrie, Gov't Mule, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, Steel Pulse, Shelby Lynne, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jimmy Sturr & his Orchestra, Pauline Reese and Danielle Evin.

• Official Website
• Farm Aid 2006 - Behind The Scenes