What is it? A 40th annual, 10-hour fundraiser concert and symposium led by Willie Nelson that changes locations from year to year to spotlight and support struggling independent farmers.
Is it still happening? Yes. A settlement was reached between the University of Minnesota and its Teamster workers following a strike last week, which threatened the event when Farm Aid organizers and crew said they would not cross the picket lines.
What are set times? The first act (TBA) starts at 1 p.m. Willie is due on at 10 p.m. Times in between will be posted at farmaid.org.
Can I still get tickets? Yes. Seats are still available for $113-$390 via gophersports.com, and a limited number should still be on sale Saturday at the stadium box office. Resale sites have them, too, but those sales do not benefit the cause.
How do I get there? U of M parking passes are available for $30-$40 with ticket sales. Metro Transit’s Green Line train goes to the stadium from downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul. SouthWest Transit is running a special Farm Aid bus from Chaska, Chanhassen and Eden Prairie. Bike racks are plentiful, with the Dinkytown Greenway and U of M Transitway for access.
What can I bring in? The stadium has strict bag policies banning backpacks, purses and fanny packs; only 1-gallon resealable clear plastic bags or small bags under 4½ by 6½ inches are allowed. No chairs except soft seat cushions. No outside food or drinks. And sorry, Willie’s Reserve fans, weed or THC drinks are also no-no’s.
Can I watch or listen in from elsewhere? Yes. CNN will broadcast the second half of the fest on TV starting at 6 p.m. The whole shebang will stream with video via farmaid.org or the Farm Aid YouTube channel. You can also tune in all day via the Willie’s Roadhouse or Dave Matthews Band Radio channels on Sirius XM.
Where does the money go? Much of it is funneled through 300 different organizations that work directly with U.S. farmers on financial assistance, education and training, including developing more sustainable practices. Some of it also is used for lobbying and organizing on behalf of farmers.
How else can I support the cause? You can donate directly at farmaid.org. The site also regularly updates its “Take Action” list with legislation and community organizations to support, and other ways of getting involved.
Will there be surprise guests? There usually are. Possible candidates include Farm Aid regular Bonnie Raitt, who’s performing Saturday night 75 miles away at the Ledge Amphitheater near St. Cloud (tough but not impossible logistically). And Bob Dylan, who sparked the original idea for Farm Aid, “attended” the U of M from 1960-1961 and is performing with Willie a night earlier in East Troy, Wis. (but Dylan is forever unpredictable).
Is this Willie Nelson’s last rodeo? At 92, there’s no telling how much longer the Texas icon can tour. This is his last concert currently advertised for 2025. However, he told us two weeks ago he’s not thinking of it as a finale.