32nd annual Farm Aid concert held Saturday to benefit family farmers
Farm AID 2017 members are pictured Saturday at Keybank Pavilion in Burgettstown.
Valerie June plays Saturday at Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion, Burgettstown.
Valerie June plays Saturday at Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion, Burgettstown.
Lukas Nelson, pictured, & Promise of the Real play Saturday at Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion, Burgettstown.
Stephen Conover sells organic pickles on a stick from Conover Organic Farm’s booth Saturday at Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion, Burgettstown.
Doug Lago of the Poconos is pictured Saturday at Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion, Burgettstown.
Margo Price plays at Farm Aid 2017 Saturday at Keybank Pavilion, Burgettstown.
Concert goers dance Saturday during Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion in Burgettstown.
Margo Price performs Saturday during Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion in Burgettstown.
Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers performs Saturday during Farm Aid 2017 at Keybank Pavilion in Burgettstown.
Kimchi isn’t among the first things that come up when people talk about the reaches of parts of Pennsylvania near the West Virginia panhandle.
But the fermented-cabbage dish, a favorite in Korean cuisine, was selling fast early Saturday afternoon at one concession stand as Key Bank Pavilion filled with crowds of attendees for Farm Aid 2017.
“We’re expecting to sell out of pretty much everything, just because of the huge number of people,” said Stephen Conover, 26, at Conover Organic Farms’ booth just inside the venue’s east gate, where spicy and mild kimchi was on display alongside hand pies, cookies and pickles on a stick.
A crowd of 23,000 was expected at the sold-out Hanover Township music venue for the 32nd annual benefit concert. Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young founded the event in 1985 as a way to advocate for and support family farmers. It’s raised more than $50 million since it was first held in Champaign, Ill., and its board advocates for policy that supports farming families.
Speakers during a news conference before the gates opened at noon highlighted efforts by small farmers to sell their products directly to consumers and called for more investment in local agriculture.
Farm Aid recently distributed grants to farmers in Texas and Lousiana, whose livelihoods were damaged earlier this summer by hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Jeff Conover, 56, Stephen’s father, was also at the family’s booth Saturday representing the farm he and his wife, Diana, own on Lee Road, just outside Langeloth in Jefferson Township. He said the event brings attention to small family farms and the challenges they face.
Stephen’s girlfriend, Liz Kelly, agreed, saying the music helped draw people in to an event where they’d learn more about how much work goes into producing their food.
“I think it really helps people appreciate food and its true roots,” said Kelly, 25, of Moon Township.
Musical acts included the three founders: Dave Matthews – a member of the board of directors – and Tim Reynolds; Sheryl Crow; Jack Johnson; The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats; Jamey Johnson; Margo Price; Blackberry Smoke; Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real; Valerie June; Insect vs Robots and Blackwood Quartet.
Early in the afternoon, Debi Pfahl, 61, and Ernie Kayorie, 72, her domestic partner, had already staked out their spot in the grassy field overlooking the stage.
“It’s awesome,” said Pfahl. “And we met some pretty cool tailgaters in the parking lot.”
Pfahl and Kayorie, who live about four hours away in western New York, came into town to see the concert with Pfahl’s daughter, Dawn Cicchini, 31, of Pittsburgh, who was sitting with them.
“We live on a little 20-plus-acre piece of property, so we do a lot of gardening,” said Kayorie. The couple said they grow vegetables, flowers and have some apple trees, and rents some of the land to a neighboring dairy farm. Kayorie added: “Generally speaking, our philosophy aligns with this.”