State legislators from Rhode Island, Vermont, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York gathered at the iconic Farm Aid festival in Saratoga Springs last weekend, embracing the opportunity to learn, connect, and enjoy a weekend full of meaningful conversations and inspiring performances.
Hosted by the State Innovation Exchange’s (SiX) Agriculture and Food Systems Program, the trip was designed to bridge the gap between policymakers and the agricultural communities they serve. It’s an essential chance for legislators to hear firsthand from farmers and rural advocates, gaining insights that can shape future state policy.
Pictured from left to right: OH Representative Juanita Brent, VT Representative Mike Rice, RI Representative Michelle McGaw, IN Senator Shelli Yoder, IA Representative J.D. Scholten, and MA Representative Natalie Blais pose for a group photo by the Farm Aid Banner.
Farmers and Legislators—Building Connections
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!”
Scholten wasn’t wrong about the music—this year’s lineup featured incredible performances, including songs by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Nathaniel Rateliff, and a powerful set from rising star Jesse Welles. Welles’ performance captured raw emotion and a commitment to speaking truth to power, making it a festival highlight.
Left: Massachusetts State Representative Natalie Blais with Rhode Island Representative Michelle McGaw
NY Legislator Leads the Charge on Local and Regional Food Systems
One of the leaders at this year’s Farm Aid was New York Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. Lupardo serves as the chair of the New York Assembly’s Agriculture Committee, where she is known for her dedication to strengthening local food systems. Lupardo participated in a Farm Aid panel titled “Growing Local and Regional Food Systems for Community and Climate,” during which she addressed issues impacting family farmers and local economies. Her participation was covered in this article in Morning Ag.
Left, Ohio State Representative Juanita Brent with New York Assemblymember Donna Lupardo
She focused on strengthening the connection between local food production and regional markets. During the panel, she spoke about the need for state and federal support for infrastructure that helps farmers get their products to market. From regional food hubs to direct farmer-to-consumer programs, Lupardo is advocating for strategies that keep food dollars circulating in local economies.
The Assemblywoman’s leadership has already made a difference in New York, where she has championed legislation to support sustainable farming and local food initiatives.
Policy and Music with a Purpose
The festival isn’t just about great music—it’s about tackling real issues facing family farmers and rural communities. As SiX Agricultural and Food Systems Research Director Siena Chrisman put it, “The Farm Aid festival brings together farmers and rural advocates from across the region and nation, making it a rich opportunity for state policymakers to learn about the issues directly from grassroots leaders. Legislators who have attended Farm Aid with us in the past have gone on to actively work with communities in support of a regional family farm-based economy. We look forward to seeing what will emerge from the connections made in Saratoga Springs.”
At a farmer forum the day before the festival, Maurice Mitchell of the Working Families Party exhorted participants to engage with people whose experiences and beliefs differ from their own to be open to being transformed. The day’s theme, A Rural Call to Action for All, invited the audience to meet each other and rural people where they are and to enter with humility and willingness to learn instead of treating rural people as benighted or lacking agency. To listen to his powerful speech, click this link.
Building Momentum for the Future
Throughout the weekend, legislators dove into discussions on supporting sustainable agriculture, boosting local economies, and tackling food insecurity. These conversations reinforced a common theme: corporate influence in agriculture has a deleterious and expanding influence on all aspects of rural life and agriculture. The consolidation of land ownership, fertilizers, seeds, access to capital, meat processing, and more mirrors the ominous resource hoarding across the economy. The influence of corporations and their proxies is at the heart of myriad crises, from the climate crisis to the apparent crumbling of our democracy, and attending Farm Aid provides state leaders a chance to see the interconnectedness of these issues.
Whether it was the direct testimony from farmers or musical interpretation of the struggle of the common person, one thing is clear: Farm Aid is about amplifying the voices of those often left out of larger agricultural conversations. And for the legislators in attendance, it’s a reminder of the critical role they play in supporting policies that protect and promote small, family-owned farms.
Farm Aid 2024 didn’t just inspire— it equipped these policymakers with new ideas and stronger relationships, ensuring they left Saratoga Springs ready to advocate for the future of sustainable agriculture. The music, like always, was just the cherry on top.