Behind the music, Farm Aid's work helps farmers

The Associated Press, Thursday, September 20, 2012, 3:29pm (PDT)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Farm Aid is synonymous with star-studded rock concerts, like the one expected to draw 30,000 people to southeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday.

But the real work of the organization happens mostly behind the scenes across rural America every day.

Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, president and co-founder of Farm Aid, says he believes the group's commitment to protecting farmland puts it on "the right side of history."

Farm Aid has raised more than $40 million since the first concert in 1985. The organization helps farmers across the country keep their land by awarding modest cash grants to groups that help them.

The lineup for Saturday's nine-hour concert at Hershey includes Nelson and fellow Farm Aid board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews. Others to perform are Jamey Johnson and Jack Johnson.