Monday, September 16, 2019

Felines For Farm Aid #MewsicMovesMe

Farm Aid started as a benefit concert held September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, to raise money for family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers in danger of losing their farms through mortgage debt. Decades later Farm Aid is still working to increase awareness of the importance of family farms, and puts on an annual concert of country, blues and rock music with a variety of music artists.


In honor of Farm Aid, the theme of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is to build a playlist featuring artists that have performed at the annual event.

I'm sad to say it's a Conway-free zone this time around because he never performed at Farm Aid. Instead I've selected another of my favorites, John Schneider. While John is best known for his role as Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, he was also a successful country singer back in the 80s. I would go so far as to say his voice is my favorite after Conway's.

This performance comes from the 1986 Farm Aid and it epitomizes what the event is all about. 



Instead of building a playlist we chose to go with a single song this week because this one really says it all. As the daughter of a former dairy farmer (with the farm still in the family) I know what a difficult life it is. We thank those who make Farm Aid possible each and every year.

21 comments:

Lone Star Cats said...

We'll have to do a Willie-heavy playlist since he's one of da momma's favorites!

XmasDolly said...

Great music I must say, but that picture in the farmland there tells the story! Thanks for sharing my friend! Great Post! Have a great day! hugs

Cathy Kennedy said...

Melissa,

Look at that Mudpie has been etched out in a cornfield somewhere in Nebraska or Oklahoma or elsewhere farming is done. John Schneider seems like a nice guy. He was on DWTS either last season or the season before. Unfortunately, he didn't last long but it was fun seeing him on there. Thanks for sharing the dance floor with the 4M gang, my dear. Have a boogietastic week!

Ingrid King said...

Even though I'm not a huge country music fan, I've always loved John Cougar Mellencamp and Neil Young - and they were both at Farm Aid in Virginia two years ago. It was an amazing experience seeing them live, as was seeing Willie Nelson.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Farm Aid sure has been around a long time and we're glad it's still going on, farming is so tough.

songbird's crazy world said...

Nice choice.

csuhpat1 said...

Very nice choice. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Peachy, Stippie, Angel Binky and Granny said...

Love the picture of you, Mudpie. You're one little farmer😺Lovely song too. Pawkisses for a Happy Monday🐾😽💞

John Holton said...

I used the fact that Conway worked with Loretta Lynn, who was at the original Farm Aid, and managed to sneak him in. John Schneider, though... good singer!

Patricia T said...

Good choice, Melissa!

Timmy Tomcat said...

We remember Farm aid, well Dad does. It is still going strong and is on September 21st this year

The Swiss Cats said...

Nice choice ! Purrs

pilch92 said...

Great choice. I didn't know your family was in the dairy business, that is interesting. I am sure it is tough as with any farming.

The Menagerie Mom said...

This is such a wonderful post. Farming is such an important industry, in so many ways. My mom grew up on a farm in southern Illinois, and my uncle still runs their farm. I myself was raised and still live in Champaign, Illinois, though I admittedly did not know this was the location of the first Farm Aid concert. I'm glad to know this now, though!

Cathy Keisha said...

We have lots of farms right here in NJ. I didn't post today but TW posted our songs on her FB page.

XmasDolly said...

This man chose acting instead of singing? Holy Cow, well at least he has something to fall back on. I didn't know he sang... WOW he's really, really good. Thanks for pointing that out girlfriend, and posting this today what a great idea. Well, I got shots in my knee today and I need to lay down a bit. Great job. You have definitely done yourself proud! GREAT JOB!

Bernadette said...

Farm Aid is a great thing to celebrate! I was so glad after the success of USA for Africa and Hands Across America that musicians used their music to help farm families and still do. I remember this song from way back then. Farming itself is a lot of work but very few understand the huge financial investment that each year of farming requires, just hoping you can break even by the end of it, then start over again. My family left farming behind in eastern Europe, but farming is still the biggest part of Pennsylvania's state income and I went through school with many kids who grew up on farms. It's been very sad to see houses growing in former fields and pastures, and all the small local farms gone.

Momma Kat and Her Bear Cat said...

My brother's first job in ministry was in a town of 1600 in rural Nebraska. I came to a whole new appreciation of how hard farmers work and how sometimes they can work hard and have nothing to show for it when prices drop or weather destroys their crops. My father grew up on a dairy farm and my grandparents still had the cows when I was really young. Those are the best memories I have of my Grandparents - milking cows and watching the truck come for the milk.

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

We didn't know farm aid was still around. It's a great concert for a great cause.

Three Chatty Cats said...

What a cool event!

bookworm said...

I learned a lot about Farm Aid from this theme and I am sad knowing that farmers continue to lose their family farms. This was a song full of feeling. I lived in the countryside for four years, had farmers as neighbors and had some insight into their hardships and joys. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com