Willie Nelson

Once again, Nelson will take time out of his heavy touring schedule to perform at Farm Aid’s benefit concert to support America’s family farmers.

When country legend Willie Nelson takes the Germain Amphitheater stage in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 7, he’ll be singing for his supper, just like he’s done for more than 50 years. But, as Nelson is quick to point out, this time he’ll be singing for our supper too.

Once again, Nelson will take time out of his heavy touring schedule to perform at Farm Aid’s benefit concert to support America’s family farmers. This year, the sold-out show will include Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, and Brooks & Dunn.

Nelson, Young, and Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to heighten awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. It all started after Nelson overheard Bob Dylan say onstage at the Live Aid benefit concert for Ethiopian famine victims, “Wouldn’t it be great if we did something for our own farmers right here in America?” The first Farm Aid show, which featured the concert’s founders, plus Dylan, B.B. King, Loretta Lynn, and Tom Petty, raised more than $7 million.

“Back in 1985 when we started, I thought we’d be able to solve the problems of the farmers completely with that one concert,” Nelson says. “It took us a couple of years to realize that without government changing its policies toward the farmers and all of us taking better care of the Earth, the farm problem is never going to be solved. The farmers need a farm bill that insures them a fair price for their product. It’s as simple as that. Without that, we will continue to lose 300 to 500 family farms a week.”

Speaking for the heartland

As Farm Aid’s president and co-founder, Nelson’s work with farmers extends far beyond his time onstage. He’s become the national voice of rural America as he’s raised money for farm organizations, discussed intricate farming policies with national political leaders, and held numerous press conferences (sometimes as late as 2 a.m. after his show) to bring the media spotlight to the latest farming crisis.

“We were having a rally of 3,000 people on a gravel road and he drove his bus from Texas to Lincoln Township, Missouri, and spoke and sang,” says Rhonda Perry, a farmer in central Missouri’s Howard County (pop. 10,212).

“He isn’t just a figurehead for a charity organization,” Perry adds. “He has been deeply engaged in farm issues and dealing directly with the crises that are facing family farmers, from the ongoing price and income crisis to tornadoes, hail, and natural disasters.”

Last year, Nelson spoke at a press conference in Manchester, Vt., to address the effect of genetically modified organisms on family farmers. Peppering his vocabulary with phrases like “farmer-owned reserves” and “inventory management,” he’s publicly supported a national dairy policy, labeling on imported foods to protect consumers, and fair-trade agreements with other countries. “He understands the issues and that’s what makes him so effective,” says Jenny Nelson, a seventh-generation family farmer in Ryegate Corner, Vt. (pop. 1,150). “Willie was so hospitable to us and just so genuine.”

Thanks to Nelson’s efforts, Farm Aid has raised more than $24 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system through public education and direct grants. For instance, Farm Aid provided the grants that helped start organizations such as Rural Vermont and the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, which help keep family farmers on their land, and has offered ongoing financial support for nearly 20 years. Honeysuckle Rose #3, the country icon’s tour bus that has logged more than 500,000 miles, serves as a mobile kitchen, where he invites farmers to sit across the table from him and share their travails.

“We’ve met with Willie several times now,” Perry says. “He has been so informed and up to speed on what’s going on that he picks up where you left off last time, ‘So what’s going on with your farm?’ You don’t have to get nervous about meeting him because he’s so engaged.”

He believes America’s small family farmers comprise the first rung on the nation’s economic ladder. “How are we treating the first rung on our ladder?” he asks. “Because when the backbone of our country is broken and the first rung on the ladder is weakened, everything collapses. We all come crashing down.

“Food is a natural resource we can’t afford not to protect. But the big money lobby forces the small farmers’ interests to the bottom of the list. What people don’t understand is that the part of America we are losing, our family farms, is the first part of a people that starts disintegrating.

“Farm Aid will help all we can, because someone has to repair that bottom rung of the ladder, and time is of the essence,” he adds. “Every civilization that has gone under in the past, has gone under because of its inability to feed its people. We are running out of time.”

In 1990, some of his farming friends tried to pay him back for all he has done for them. That was the year the Internal Revenue Service billed Nelson for $32 million in unpaid taxes. The agency seized his homes and other property and began auctioning off his belongings, but he got a little help from his friends and some from strangers, and some from farmers who appreciated what he had done with Farm Aid. “People stepped up to the plate and bought everything—the golf course, recording studio, ranch, and I got them all back. Felt good.”

On the road again

After Sunday’s concert, Nelson will quietly resume his recording and 200-date-a-year touring schedule that he’s maintained for more than four decades. It’s hard to imagine, but the redheaded stranger turned 70 this year. He’s celebrating by releasing two new albums, Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars and Guitars, and a duet album with longtime friend (and former boss) Ray Price, Run That By Me One More Time. Nelson has no thoughts of retirement. “From what?” he asks. “I only play music and golf. Which one do you want me to give up?”

He’s recorded more than 230 solo and duet albums and made countless appearances on albums of other artists. His recent duet with Toby Keith, Whiskey for My Men, Beer for My Horses, delivered his first No. 1 record in 19 years. While many of today’s top stars idolize Nelson, whom they cite as a major influence, he remains unaffected by the accolades and his accomplishments. “It’s the music that’s important,” he explains.

Nelson is recognized the world over as a true American music icon and known immediately by one name—Willie—and by his unforgettable sight and inimitable sound. This non-judgmental, non-materialistic man treats everyone the same—be they big star or modest farmer. “The right to save family farms isn’t just about farmers,” he says. “It’s about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply for all of us. It’s about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street. It’s about a better America.”

Patsy Bruce is a Nashville-based journalist and songwriter of hits such as Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article