Farm Aid 40 made its debut in Minneapolis this weekend, attracting more than 50,000 attendees and generating significant economic activity across the city. Fans traveled from across the country, including Iowa, Indiana, Colorado, and California, to see legendary performers such as Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Bob Dylan. n n“I’d definitely come for Willie and Neil Young — Willie especially!” said Dana Howard, who journeyed from Iowa. Dennis Oakes, visiting from Valparaiso, Indiana, praised the lineup, highlighting acts like Billy Strings, Sierra Ferrell, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. n nKevin Kurtt, spokesperson for Meet Minneapolis, emphasized the festival’s impact, noting its arrival coincided with other major weekend events like Lynx and Vikings games and the Dakota block party. The convergence of events brought hundreds of thousands of visitors, contributing millions of dollars to the local economy through spending at hotels, restaurants, bars, and retail outlets. n nJohn Diffendal, maintenance manager at the Days Hotel near Huntington Bank Stadium, reported that 127 of the hotel’s 130 rooms were booked — double the usual weekend occupancy. “We’re typically busy during Gophers football season, but without a home game, this level of demand is unusual,” he said. n nAt Stub and Herbs Bar, managers anticipated around 1,000 patrons on the festival night, a substantial increase from the typical 300. Cait Heineman, a server at the bar, welcomed the influx, noting the benefit to local businesses. n nFarm Aid, now in its 40th year, relies on the annual concert for about 80 percent of its nonprofit funding. The organization supports family farmers nationwide through training programs, counseling services, and advocacy efforts to expand market access. Jennifer Fahy, co-executive director of Farm Aid, stated the initiative has assisted 60,000 farmers in Minnesota alone and raised over $85 million since its inception. n n“This event not only celebrates music but strengthens agricultural communities and stimulates regional commerce,” Fahy added. n— news from 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
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Farm Aid 40 brings thousands of fans, economic boom to Minneapolis
Farm Aid 40: a musical magnet in Minneapolis this weekend. n n“I should say Willie, I should say Neil Young — Willie of course!” declared Dana Howard, who travelled from Iowa to attend the festival. “Just for this?” she was asked. “ Of course, you have to, you should.” n n“Billy Strings for sure and Sierra Farrell and Willie of course, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats,” added Dennis Oakes, from Valparaiso, Ind. “Really good lineup tonight.” n nThe star power of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan, among others, drew big crowds, with an expected attendance of more than 50,000 people. n n“Getting Farm Aid 40 is a large thing,” says Kevin Kurtt, a spokesperson for Meet Minneapolis. n nHe says the festival’s very first visit to Minneapolis on Saturday coincides with weekend events like Lynx and Vikings games and the Dakota block party. n n“You’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people and millions of dollars in economic impact,” Kurtt notes. n nThat includes merchandising, hotels, bars and restaurants all cashing in. n n“Flying, driving, we’ve had people from Colorado, California, all over the place,” explains John Diffendal, the maintenance manager with the Days Hotel. n nHe says the hotel, just a stone’s throw from Huntington Bank Stadium, has sold out all but three of its 130 rooms. n nThat’s double the normal weekend occupancy. n n“This time of year, we’re busy for Gophers football, it’s that time of year,” Diffendal says. “But not having a home game, for us to be sold out like this, it’s a little bit abnormal.” n nDown the street, at Stub and Herbs Bar, a Saturday night would typically bring in about 300 customers. n nThe night of the festival, managers are expecting a crowd of about 1,000, especially afterward. n n“We’re excited about people coming in from other states and other areas,” says Cait Heineman, one of the servers. n nFarm Aid directors say the annual festival provides 80% of the nonprofit’s budget. n nThe organization provides counseling and training for new growers and supports groups lobbying for family farms. n n“All these good organizations that are working with farmers to provide direct support to them,” Jennifer Fahy, Farm Aid co-executive director, told reporters last week. “To train new farmers and open new markets to make it possible for them to really have a thriving family farm system of agriculture.” n nRELATED: U of M Teamsters end strike after latest settlement offer from the university n nThe support goes to farmers across the country, including 60,000 in Minnesota, she says. n nThe festival has raised more than $85 million in the last four decades, all while providing a showcase for some legendary performers. n n“I think it’s great that we, that the university is doing something that helps farmers and helps local business,” Heineman says. “Brings in a bigger crowd from outside areas.”