I’d like to introduce you to a few people who are near and dear to my heart. These people—young and old, rural and urban, farmers and activists—give me hope. When they joined me on stage at Farm Aid 30, I felt the impact of our work for family farmers over the past 30 years.

There’s Corky Jones, an 83-year-old Nebraska farmer and activist who I have stood with for 30 years;

Patrick Stall, a college student who fights factory farms in his hometown in Iowa because he thinks people should come before corporate profits;

Mona Lee Brock, a farm advocate in Oklahoma who has worked tirelessly to save the lives of family farmers in crisis;

Rosario Maldonado, a young farmer growing good food for the folks who need it most in Chicago’s neighborhoods;

And, Darius Jones, an urban farmer and mentor to young people making a change for the better in their own lives.

People like these are the reason that Farm Aid exists. Their work strengthens the future of family farm agriculture.

By supporting these farm heroes, you and I make sure family farmers like Corky stay on the land; amplify farmer voices so they can be heard by politicians and eaters; build a strong network of farm advocates like Mona Lee; make it possible for a new generation of young people like Rosario and Darius to become farmers; and stand with rural citizens like Patrick to stop factory farms from wiping out family farms and damaging rural communities.

Farm Aid’s work to strengthen family farmers sure benefits all of us. Family farmers put good food on our tables. They protect our soil and water. And they strengthen our communities. If we want good food, we need family farmers!