Willie Nelson Asks for Farmer Consideration

August 28, 2000

Country singer and Farm Aid President Willie Nelson wants everyone, but especially voters and candidates, to remember family farmers in this election year. Farm Aid's 15th anniversary is this year, and Nelson says now is the perfect time for voters and candidates to make a difference for farm families.

"I would urge voters and the candidates to remember the family farmers this election year," said Nelson. "Let's not leave them behind, because I believe that they are, and always will be, the backbone of this country."

Farm Aid attributes the current farm crisis to failed government policies that promote the chronic overproduction of grain, livestock and dairy products and that force family farmers to sell their products for much less than it costs to produce them. The average farmer earns only $7,000 annually from on-farm income, and among all livelihoods in the country, family farmers are facing the greatest decline, according to Farm Aid.

Nelson has invited presidential candidates, Vice President Al Gore, Texas Governor George W. Bush, Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan, to meet before Farm Aid's 15th anniversary concert, Sept. 17, at Nissan Pavilion in Prince William County, VA. In addition to the four presidential candidates, the members of the House and Senate Agricultural Committees, members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committees and the House and Senate leadership have been invited to hear from family farmers.

Farm Aid 2000's lineup includes Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, along with Barenaked Ladies, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Travis Tritt, Sawyer Brown, Arlo Guthrie, North Mississippi All Stars, Jimmy Sturr, Shannon Curfman, Pat Green and more artists to be announced.

In a statement that might not be echoed by most political pundits, Nelson said, "I believe the election this year will be decided by the family farmers, the less than 2 million small family farmers who are still very closely associated to the 10 to 20 million voters in the farm country."