More than 29,000 fans are ticketed for Saturday's Farm Aid 2012 concert at Hersheypark Stadium at Hershey, Pa. This year's line-up features performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jamey Johnson, ALO, Pegi Young and The Survivors, and Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real.
On-stage, they'll salute the innovation and ingenuity of family farmers. Off-stage, Farm Aid hosts interactive, hands-on workshops in the Homegrown Village plus a food collection center for those in need.
FOOD PRODUCERS ON CENTER STAGE: John Mellencamp, one of Farm Aid's original founders, tunes up for this weekend's concert at Hersheypark Arena.
Concertgoers can drop off non-perishable food items at the main entrance to Hersheypark Stadium. Suggested donation items include canned tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, stews and soups, peanut butter and baby food.
Northeast farmers, businesses and nonprofit organizations are pitching in to bring family farm-sourced ingredients to concession vendors. They'll feature food with organic beef burgers; local veggie wraps; organic jalapeno corn dogs; non-confinement pork; antibiotic-free chicken; harvest salad; and local, non-genetically engineered popcorn.
A Youth Market farm fresh stand, organized by GrowNYC and staffed with local
FFA youth from the Milton Hershey School, will offer concertgoers fresh fruit from local farms, Pennsylvania pretzels, baked goods and local cheeses.
Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host this annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food.
Farm Aid 2012 sponsors include Giant Food Stores, Anvil Knitwear, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Horizon Organic, Weis Markets, Organic Valley, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Silk Soymilk, Amy's Kitchen, Bell & Evans Air Chilled, Martin Guitar, Messina Wildlife PLOTSAVER and UNFI Foundation.
Don't have tickets? No problem. Catch a special webcast from 8 to 11 p.m. EDT at www.farmaid.org. Willie Nelson's SiriusXM channel 56, Willie's Roadhouse, will air live from Farm Aid 2012, beginning at 2 pm EDT.