Legendary Agriculture: Farm Aid 2013

By CHRIS SURPRENANT

Managing Editor

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Saratoga, a myriad of people gathered at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) for the 28^th annual Farm Aid benefit concert. Originally organized by Willie Nelson, he wrangled together some other famous friends who are now board members, including Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews. The festival promotes the virtues of the small family farm and the positive impact agriculture can have on the ever-changing environment.

Lining the trails of SPAC, families, couples, teenagers, the elderly, and everyone under the sun came out for an afternoon of music that supported, quite literally, a grass-roots cause.

“We like to support local farmers with the food we buy. With great music, all the better,” said concert attendee Jeremy Zhe. He and his wife came out with their newborn to support a great cause, and, not surprisingly, see Dave Matthews, a perennial favorite with the millennial generation.

While the music was a draw for many people, education and information were at the top of the list of priorities not only for those directly involved with Nelson and company, but the numerous volunteers and festival-goers.

Becky Purcell, a dietician and professor at Quinnipiac University, came out not only to bring back some useful information on healthy and responsible food habits, but also to show her children that there are other healthy, more local options for food.

Social responsibility and sustainability were at the forefront of the conversation of the festival’s many patrons, as well as the performers who spear-headed the entire project.

Nelson reiterated throughout the day the value of the American farmer. Addressing a packed and enthusiastic crowd, Nelson said to the many farmers present, “You’re very important to our country. You’re necessary to our survival.”

Saturday’s legend-laden event did not, however, focus solely on what the power of celebrity could do for the cause. One of many local farmers, Chuck Curtiss, spoke to the integrity of the profession. “I was born into this and unemployable anywhere else. It’s the gratification of what you can do for yourself every day.”

Artist John Mellencamp reinforced this as often as he could. To the audience he posed the question, “What would we do if we lose small farms? L.A. and big cities like that are great, but they’re not what make this country work.”

Neil Young, the “Heart of Gold” singer, wanted to emphasize that the festival is not solely about helping out the farmer in need.

“Farmers are at the front line of climate change in the 21st century. We need to understand that they are the ones who see it first. They are our first line of defense,” Young said, “Go back to God, earth, sun, and water.”

The back-to-basics philosophy adopted by many supporters was also shared by vendors and visiting agricultural organizations.

Of the many groups out distributing information, the Agricultural Stewardship Association (A.S.A.) encompassed the over-arching theme of Farm Aid. According to their data, the Capital District has lost over 60 percent of its farmland from 1954 to 2007. That translates to roughly 800,000 acres. The A.S.A. seeks to preserve existing farmland to forever be used for the purpose of agriculture.

One of Farm Aid’s “Farmer Heroes,” Kevin Jablonski, stressed the importance of getting the word out about agricultural education. “I think it’s fantastic,” he said regarding Farm Aid. “We need more media attention for buying local and how buying local will keep money in individual counties, as well as in the state.”

Creating a focus on buying local and regional foods is not something to be done only by larger watchdog groups. Ruth Katz of the Northeast Region’s Food and Farm Network stressed the idea that even college students can do their part to help the farmer by taking part in the Real Food Challenge. Through this initiative, students rally to get local and regional foods brought to their college’s dining program.

Even on the micro level, the impact of local farmers is significant. Casey and Kelly Holzworth own a small farm in Greenfield, NY where they grow a multitude of small vegetables and most recently, hops. It is small enough to provide sustenance for the two of them and does not require a tractor, allowing for denser crops, which is ultimately more environmentally friendly.

Holzworth has taken farming a step further, bringing the farmer’s market into the 21st century. She is a coordinator of the online resource FarmieMarket.com, a site that allows visitors to place orders that are filled by local farmers.

The festival views consumers not only as customers, but as partners in a push for change regarding the states of so-called “factory-farms.” Many in attendance sported t-shirts intending to make bold statements both about the farming industry and the environment. The most popular proved to be a simple white shirt with the word “Farmer” prominently displayed accompanied by a man karate-kicking a donkey. In other words, “Farmers kick ass.”

Indeed, such was the theme of the day. No matter a person’s political party or personal beliefs, those at Saturday’s festival all agreed in support of the American farmer, aware of the necessity of change in the industry and education about its impact.

With several performances throughout the day, including a rare surprise performance by the legendary Pete Seeger singing “This Land is Your Land,” the crowd remained enthused and upbeat. Even with so many musical legends in one place, the message remained clear that they farming system must be improved in order to remain an essential part of the American identity.

For Young, the key to bettering such an important industry is to work together, despite differences in approach.

“We’re both right. There must be a change in method. Make it sustainable. Make it clean. Farmers are the solution.”