Today, Farm Aid’s annual music and food festival announced the details for it’s to return to Noblesville, Ind.’s Ruoff Music Center set for Sept. 23. The event, touted as Farm Aid 2023, promises a day filled with music, local food, and agrarian experiences, with an emphasis on American farmers as champions of positively affecting climate change.
The star-studded lineup will feature renowned artists such as Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), Margo Price, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Allison Russell, The String Cheese Incident, and Particle Kid.
As always the festival aims to celebrate family farmers and their efforts to combat climate change through regenerative, organic, and sustainable farming practices. On the Farm Aid stage and throughout the event, the festival will showcase these innovative climate champions. The gathering will also serve as an opportunity for farmers and farm and food advocates from across the country to converge and share their work, making it an fertile ground for innovative ideas and collaboration. In the lead-up to the festival, Farm Aid will host additional pre-festival events to highlight the accomplishments of these farmers.
2023’s event will be the third Farm Aid concert held in Indiana, and the second to take place in Noblesville. Previously, Farm Aid IV was held at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis in 1990, followed by Farm Aid 2001: A Concert for America in Noblesville shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001.
Farm Aid President and Founder, Nelson, expressed his confidence in the power of family farmers, stating, “Family farmers have the solutions to some of our toughest challenges. As we face a changing climate, farmers in Indiana, across the Midwest, and all over the country are farming in ways that create more resilient farms to build healthy soils and protect our water.”
The impact of climate change has already been significant across Indiana, with the state expected to experience hotter, drier summers and wetter winters and springs in the coming years. This scenario highlights the urgency for on-farm production practices that prioritize soil and water conservation. Indiana currently suffers from severe water pollution, with the most polluted rivers and streams compared to any other state.
A recent study found that almost all lakes and reservoirs in Indiana are unsuitable for drinking water, with manure run-off from large-scale concentrated animal feeding operations being one of the primary contributors to this issue. However, many family farmers in Indiana are at the forefront of implementing sustainable farming practices to mitigate climate change. These practices include cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced soil tillage, integrated livestock and crop production, pastured livestock raising, and improved soil and water management.
Mellencamp, Farm Aid Co-Founder, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing the Farm Aid experience back to his home state of Indiana, recognizing the deep connection the state holds for him and the generations of family farmers. Indiana is the eighth largest farming state in the nation, generating $31.2 billion annually. With 56,649 farms and over 94,000 farmers, the state devotes over 80% of its land to farms, forests, and woodland. While corn and soybeans are the primary crops, Hoosier farmers cultivate more than 30 major fruits and vegetables each year, including melons, pumpkins, and mint.
Farm Aid festival attendees can expect a full day of music and the chance to savor local flavors through Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Concessions®. These concessions offer a diverse menu featuring fresh ingredients sourced from family farmers who utilize ecological practices, ensuring a fair price for their produce. The festival’s HOMEGROWN Village will engage festivalgoers through hands-on activities and exhibits on soil, water, energy, food, and farming. Moreover, the FarmYard Stage will host conversations between farmers and artists, while the HOMEGROWN Skills tent will celebrate the expertise and cultural diversity of agriculture.
Ticket prices range from $75 to $315 and will be available for purchase at LiveNation.com. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 12, here.