FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 9, 2012
CONTACT:
Brittany Vanderpool
(202) 248-5487
bvanderpool@vancomm.com
Farm Aid Music and Food Festival Returns to Pennsylvania on Sept. 22 at Hersheypark Stadium
Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews to headline 2012 concert event plus special guest Jack Johnson and more
HERSHEY, Pa. — Farm Aid announced today that its annual benefit concert will return to Pennsylvania on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Hersheypark Stadium.
“We’ve built a strong family farm movement to grow our economy, ensure our health and protect our environment. Farm Aid brings these Main Street values to transform the Wall Street-controlled farm and food system,” said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. “The Farm Aid concert is our chance to shine a spotlight on the independent family farmers who are essential to the well-being of our country.”
Farm Aid 2012 will feature Nelson and fellow board members John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews — with Tim Reynolds — as well as Jack Johnson, ALO, Pegi Young & The Survivors, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.
The signature music and food festival will feature Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Concessions® — family farm-identified, local and organic foods. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village will give concertgoers a chance to meet farmers, engage in hands-on food and farm activities and learn about the ways family farmers are enriching our soil, protecting our water and growing our economy, in addition to bringing us good food for good health.
“Our country faces pressing challenges, and none of them will be solved without family farmers,” said Carolyn Mugar, executive director of Farm Aid. “The Farm Aid concert brings farmers and eaters together to grow the kind of agriculture that builds stronger communities and a healthier food system. This year, we look forward to celebrating the ingenuity of farmers from Pennsylvania and all across the United States.”
Farm Aid has a rich history in Pennsylvania. Farm Aid has long collaborated with and supported organizations and organizers in the state who are growing the Good Food Movement, including innovators at the forefront of the organic and the Buy Fresh Buy Local movements. Farm Aid concerts in the region include Farm Aid 1999 and 2000 in Bristow, Va.; Farm Aid 2002 in Burgettstown, Pa.; and Farm Aid 2006 in Camden, N.J.
Tickets for Farm Aid 2012 will go on sale Friday, July 13, at 10 a.m. EDT and will be available atwww.livenation.com, www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, GIANT Center Box Office, or by phone at 800-745-3000. Ticket prices range from $35.75 to $99.75. For venue information, visitwww.hersheyparkstadium.com.
Farm Aid will offer advance sale tickets to Farm Aid members beginning tomorrow, July 10. To become a member of Farm Aid, visit farmaid.org.
Farm Aid is teaming up again with Tickets-for-Charity® to offer exclusive VIP Packages to make this year’s event even more memorable. Packages include premium tickets and one-of-a-kind opportunities — all to benefit Farm Aid. Packages will be available exclusively at www.ticketsforcharity.com.
Farm Aid welcomes the participation of the local business community and offers corporate sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact Glenda Yoder at glenda@farmaid.org.
For concert updates, follow Farm Aid on Twitter (@farmaid) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/farmaid) and visit farmaid.org/concert.
Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $40 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
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**Editors and Producers Note: Advance credentials are required for all media to attend Farm Aid 2012. Please visit farmaid.org/media by Friday, September 14 to apply.**
