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Hanging Out With the Stars

Hendrickson discusses rural development at St. Louis Farm Aid event

Mary Hendrickson, extension associate professor of rural sociology, usually talks about the problems facing small farms with her students and Missouri farmers. During a media presentation at the recent Farm Aid concert held in St. Louis, she got a chance to address these issues to a more well-known audience.

One stage with Hendrickson were entertainers Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Melloncamp and Dave Matthews. Also in attendance were Kathleen Merrigan, USDA deputy secretary of agriculture, and Jay Nixon, Missouri governor.

Farm Aid attracted 21,000 people to St. Louis. MU Rural Sociology had two of the approximately 40 exhibits for the public.

"My task was to talk about how family farms and local food businesses can help local communities thrive across the state of Missouri," Hendrickson said. "I gave examples of farm-to-school programs happening in St. Louis and farmer-to-grocery store projects. I'm friends with Kathleen Merrigan. She mentioned how much she enjoyed being on stage with her old friends Rhonda Perry from the Missouri Rural Crisis Center and me."

Hendrickson discusses rural development at St. Louis Farm Aid event

Mary Hendrickson, extension associate professor of rural sociology (first row, far right, with microphone) provides her insight into the issues facing small farmers in Missouri to Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Melloncamp and Dave Matthews (from left, front row). Attending, but not in the photo, were Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture at USDA, and Jay Nixon, governor of Missouri.

Hendrickson said the coolest thing about the event was how interested and supportive the artists were.

"Dave Matthews owns an organic farm in Virginia and Neil Young was really nice to a young farmer who was also on stage who was really nervous," she continued. "He gave him a standing ovation to put him at ease. I also did an interview with XM radio that day. I had a great time seeing so many of my friends and talking to concert goers about sustainable agriculture and community food systems."

Farm Aid has been going on for 24 years. Nelson, Young and Mellencamp organized the first concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001. Farm Aid has raised nearly $35 million to promote a resilient family farm system of agriculture. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land.

Posted Oct. 29, 2009.
Story: Randy Mertens
Photos: Sandy Rikoon, Farm Aid 2009

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