For forty years, Farm Aid has been the place where music meets movement-building. Founded in 1985 by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp, the annual concert brings together artists, farmers, and advocates working toward a just and sustainable food system.

This year’s 40th anniversary celebration took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, marking four decades of uniting music and advocacy for change. The milestone concert featured legendary performances by Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and others, and served as a gathering place for people reimagining what’s possible beyond industrial agriculture.

New Roots Institute was proud to be part of Farm Aid 2025, with staff member Becca Rogers, current Academic Year Fellows Ronan Magnus and Rosa Sabel, and alum Sam Schillinger representing our growing network of young leaders. Their shared goal was to strengthen ties between animal protection advocates and independent farmers, connect with leaders advancing sustainable and equitable food systems, and build new partnerships rooted in shared purpose.

At Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village, fellows joined outreach efforts to encourage farmers to attend a historic Farmer Fly-In and Rally in Washington, D.C., where more than 200 farmers lobbied against the latest versions of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act in over 100 meetings with congresspeople. The legislation threatens to overturn landmark state laws like California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3, which ban the sale of products from animals raised in extreme confinement. If passed, it would undermine both farmers’ autonomy and hard-won animal welfare protections.

Fellows spoke with farmers about these risks while learning firsthand how federal policy like the Farm Bill shapes life for farmers on the ground. For Ronan Magnus, the conversations were eye-opening. “I expected people to be more skeptical,” he said, “but instead, most either explicitly agreed or supported protesting the EATS Act.”

That sense of openness extended beyond the advocacy tent. Fellows also met with farmers and rural community members directly impacted by factory farming, including a couple from northeast Indiana who are fighting to stop pollution from nearby factory farms, where cow manure is contaminating the lakes near their home. These exchanges reflected the Inclusive Collaboration DNA strand that New Roots cultivates: we strive to see beyond our egos to meet others where they are to collectively strengthen our impact. This approach, taught during the Leadership Academy, deepened fellows’ understanding of how industrial agriculture harms both animals and people and encouraged them to approach dialogue with empathy, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to finding common ground.

Reflecting on the experience, Ronan added, “Local farmers could be key allies in campaigns. Since Farm Aid was in my home city, the connections I made with farmers—like those at the Mill City Farmers Market—could be another strong tool to use when putting pressure on lawmakers. Thanks to Farm Aid, I have a way I can connect with these communities now.”

Beyond conversations with farmers, fellows also connected with content creators and early-stage advocates who are beginning to explore the impacts of factory farming. These new relationships open important doors for continued storytelling, collaboration, and public education across movements through social media.

The day before the concert, the team attended the Farmer Forum, an intimate space where farmers shared stories of resilience, policy challenges, and innovation. Fellows gained insight into coalition-building, messaging, and the power of storytelling in driving cultural and policy change.

“Small farmers are crucial allies in ending factory farming,” said Sam Schillinger, a New Roots alum. “Their voices carry tremendous weight with lawmakers because they’re directly affected by industrial agriculture. Common ground exists with almost anyone—finding it is the key to building meaningful, trust-based relationships.”

The weekend culminated in a celebration of solidarity and song. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews took the stage to honor the farmers and advocates working every day to build a fairer food system. The music echoed Farm Aid’s enduring message: resilience, hope, and unity across movements.

New Roots’ presence at Farm Aid 2025 highlighted the growing connection between the fight for animal welfare, farmer justice, and sustainable agriculture. Fellows and alumni came away with new insights, relationships, and inspiration to strengthen their campaigns back home.

“It was incredible to see our fellows connect so naturally across movements,” said Becca Rogers, Manager of Campaigns at New Roots Institute. “This is exactly the kind of leadership we want to cultivate: collaborative, curious, and rooted in systems change.”

As we look ahead, New Roots fellows will continue working alongside farmers and organizations aligned in building a food system that is just, sustainable, and compassionate. Farm Aid 2025 reminded us that when advocates and farmers come together, our collective voice grows stronger and our shared vision for a better future moves one step closer to reality.

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​​New Roots Institute is a nonprofit empowering the next generation with knowledge and training to end factory farming. Through our leadership development programs, fellows take what they learn about the food system and put it into practice by launching campaigns that challenge industrial animal agriculture. We are strengthening the movement—spreading change from individuals to their communities, and expanding outward into wider systems-level change.