Against the Grain: The Farm Aid Podcast

Chillicothe, 40 Years Later: Part 2

In Part 2 of this special two-part episode of "Against the Grain," we take you back to Chillicothe, Missouri to mark the 40th anniversary of the longest sustained farmer protest in American history.  Starting in March of 1986, farmers and movement allies blockaded the Farmers Home Administration office in Chillicothe for 145 days. Organized in large part by the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, the blockade brought together a multiracial working class coalition of civil rights, labor, and farm activists. Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid's first executive director, got involved from the start and recruited Farm Aid founder John Mellencamp to join the blockade.  Other national figures like the Rev. Jesse Jackson also came to Chillicothe. This episode includes interviews with John Mellencamp, MRCC organizers Roger Allison and Rhonda Perry, as well as Farm Aid's Carolyn Mugar. It also features archival sound from Jesse Jackson's appearance and John Mellencamp's performance at the blockade before 10,000 people in the FmHA parking lot, where he used a flatbed truck for a stage. As we stare down another farm crisis, the story of Chillicothe reminds us that we've been here before, fought back - and won!

Chillicothe, 40 Years Later: Part 1

In Part I of this special two-part episode of "Against the Grain," we take you back to Chillicothe, Missouri to mark the 40th anniversary of the longest sustained farmer protest in American history.  Starting in March of 1986, farmers and movement allies blockaded the Farmers Home Administration office in Chillicothe for 145 days. Organized in large part by the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, the blockade brought together a multiracial working class coalition of civil rights, labor, and farm activists. Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid's first executive director, got involved from the start and recruited Farm Aid founder John Mellencamp to join the blockade.  Other national figures like the Rev. Jesse Jackson also came to Chillicothe. This episode includes interviews with John Mellencamp, MRCC organizers Roger Allison and Rhonda Perry, as well as Farm Aid's Carolyn Mugar. It also features archival sound from Jesse Jackson's appearance and John Mellencamp's performance at the blockade before 10,000 people in the FmHA parking lot, where he used a flatbed truck for a stage. As we stare down another farm crisis, the story of Chillicothe reminds us that we've been here before, fought back - and won!

Farm Aid 40: Live from the FarmYard Stage

In this episode, we take you back to Farm Aid 40, where we recorded a panel discussion on the FarmYard Stage. Our guests include farmer Amanda Koehler, activist Lisa Bellanger and Farm Aid artist Madeline Edwards. Although we could not have anticipated the shocking events that occurred in the Twin Cities just a few months after this panel, the administration's earlier disruptions to the farm and food system informed our discussion. Tune in to hear about the challenges faced by new farmers and emerging artists—and the hopes that keep them moving forward.

Live from Farm Aid 40: Policymakers talk about the current farm crisis

Live from Farm Aid 40: Policymakers talk about the current farm crisis In this episode, we take you back to Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis, where we spoke to some of the state's leading policymakers about issues facing farmers in the current crisis and about how to get a Farm Bill passed. Our colleague, Hannah Tremblay, Farm Aid's Policy and Advocacy Manager, helps frame our conversation by discussing the state of the Farm Bill and what's happening in farm country right now.  We then talk to Congresswoman Angie Craig, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Governor Tim Walz, who shouts out Farm Aid founder John Mellencamp!

Artists Sustaining Community in the Face of Climate Disasters

In this final episode of Against the Grain's Artists & Activism series, we take you back to Luck Reunion where we recorded a panel conversation in front of a live audience. This panel had four artists who lived through various climate disasters and have been working to sustain their communities in the aftermath. Listen in as we talk to Farm Aid board artist Margo Price, JJ Tourville, Matthew Logan Vasquez and Tommy Newport, followed by a brilliant question and answer session with the audience. Join us for Farm Aid’s annual festival on Saturday, September 20th, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota!  This all-day celebration of music and farmers features a unique lineup of artists and genres, along with delicious, family farm foods in our HOMEGROWN Concessions.  Celebrate Farm Aid’s 40 years of standing with family farmers in person or grab a Watch Party Kit for that festival feel at home! Go to www.farmaid.org/podcast  for details