For the fifth year in a row, the SiX Food, Agriculture and Rural Economies (FARE) program has brought a cohort of state legislators to the world-renowned Farm Aid festival to connect with farmers, advocates, and partners and in the process build a stronger, more resilient food and farming system.
Below are five years of highlights from these festivals showing that when policymakers connect with farmers and rural communities in celebration and resilience, our democracy and communities are strengthened.
Farm Aid 2022 – Durham, North Carolina
In 2022, SiX had the honor of bringing Georgia Senator Kim Jackson, now Senior Vice President of Programs at SiX, and North Carolina Senator and CROP Leader Natalie Murdock to the first Farm Aid post-pandemic.
Senators Jackson and Murdock connected with farmers and advocates during the Farm Aid festival, speaking on the Farm Aid stage about their work supporting farmers, particularly farmers of color and Black farmers across the South.
Farm Aid 2023 – Noblesboro, Indiana
Our first dedicated Farm Aid cohort of midwest legislators joined SiX in 2023 in Noblesboro, Indiana for a two-day event connecting with farmers, food producers and advocates ahead of a star-studded music festival.
Cohort Legislators, IL Representative Sonya Harper, IA Representative J.D. Scholten, IA Representative Elizabeth Wilson, IN Senator Shelli Yoder, OH Representative Juanita Brent, MI Senator Sue Shink and MI Rep. Emily Dievendorf joined more than 200 farmers, fishermen, and farm advocates for two days of farm tours and discussions about the state of farm policy in the Midwest and across the nation. Legislators came away with concrete solutions, especially on how state agriculture policies can effectively address water quality, the climate crisis, and racial inequity in the farm and food system.
Read more about Farm Aid 2023 here.
Farm Aid 2024 – Saratoga Springs, New York
In 2024, the SiX Farm Aid cohort headed to the Northeast where state legislators from Rhode Island, Vermont, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York gathered at the iconic Farm Aid festival in Saratoga Springs.
Legislators participated in farm tours at Breadtree Farms, an organic chestnut operation growing Chinese chestnuts, and Featherbed Lane Farm, a draft-horse powered regenerative farm. At each location, legislators and advocates learned about the relationship between governance, farming, and sustainability.
Representative J.D. Scholten from Iowa summed up the importance of this kind of hands-on experience, saying, “Going to Farm Aid as a State Representative has been a great way to network with agriculture advocates and other legislators. The ideas we discuss inspire me to go back to Iowa and to do more in this space. Also, the music isn’t too shabby!”
Read more about Farm Aid 2024 here.
Farm Aid 40th Anniversary 2025 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
2025, marked the 40th anniversary of the world-renowned Farm Aid festival, and the fourth year that SiX collaborated with Farm Aid to bring state legislators to the festival. As part of SiX’s regional organizing strategy, SiX brought our largest group to date– 23 legislators from the Midwest, including from Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and host state Minnesota.
For the 40th anniversary, SiX planned a Farm Tour where legislators toured Farmland Cooperative, an immigrant-run farm, and Flying J Farm in Cannon Falls. During the tour they heard from farmers, including members of the “Oat Mafia” oat-growing network, about land and market access, healthy soil practices, and state policy gaps. The tour showed that independent farmers and rural communities need stronger state policymaker leadership to keep growing sustainable, healthy, and accessible food.
The day before the music festival, Farm Aid held its annual Farmer Forum, a space where farmers, advocates, and—thanks to SiX—state legislators gathered to talk about pressing issues in the farm and food system. This year, as a key partner of Farm Aid, SiX hosted a panel featuring Iowa State Representative Megan Srinivas, Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman, Illinois State Representative Sonya Harper, and Illinois Stewardship Alliance Executive Director Liz Stelk to talk about their work engaging with rural communities, Black farmers, and building successful inside/outside strategy for policymaking.
The experience gave legislators a unique opportunity to hear firsthand from farmers and rural advocates about how they are navigating today’s turbulent political and social climate, providing participants with insights to help shape more effective state policy.
Read more about Farm Aid 2025 here.
Farm Aid 2026 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
For our first Farm Aid festival in the mid-atlantic, SiX’s Farm Aid cohort overcame a nor’easter to hear directly from fisherfolk and advocates in the sustainable aquaculture space on this year’s coastal tour hosted by SiX’s partners the North American Marine Alliance.
While at Farm Aid, legislators shared their legislative victories like defeating pesticide immunity bills backed by corporate ag, supporting family farms, and building urban-rural relationships to support our land, ag economy, and food access. Legislators from the Midwest used their time together to strategize for the 2027 legislative session. And ALL of the legislators spoke with and listened to farmers, advocates, organizers, and historians.
One of the magical opportunities that Farm Aid provides is an opportunity for policymakers to connect and celebrate with those that feed us all while listening to great music. Cohort members came away with the knowledge and new relationships needed to support farmers and rural communities in shaping the rules that govern their own livelihoods, so that we all get better, fairer policy for farmers, rural communities, and for everyone who eats.
Read more about Farm Aid 2026 here.