Clockwise From Left:
Kevin Kinney of Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ sings as the wind blows his hair
across his face.
Willie Nelson, right, raps with Maestro of the rap band Central
Texas Posse.
A couple watches Farm Aid VI from a grassy area opposite the
stage. - —
A crowd member motions for people to hit a giant beach ball his
way.
Photos by Jeff Haller/DN
On the road again
Farm Aid VI mixes stars with cause
By Jill O'Brien
Senior Reporter
At 6 a.m. Saturday, inoculated by caffeine,
chocolate and anticipation, we blazed east.
Destination: Ames, Iowa, Farm Aid VI.
We arrived amid the early unorganized
moments of Farm Aid. Farmers cornered re
porters and reporters cornered stars.
Roger Clinton, the president’s brother,
flanked by a 400-pound bodyguard, wandered
amiably, signing autographs and talking with
reporters.
A frowning Neil Young, who brushed aside
a ride in a chauffcurcd golf cart, chose instead
to walk through a flurry of farmers and fans.
At noon, Farm Aid kicked off with Willie
Nelson’s remarks, followed by the Dennis Al
ley Wisdom Indian Dancers.
The day-long wind blew dust into eyes and
litter under scats while its unseen hand swatted
giant beach ballscirculating throughout acrowd
of nearly 50,000.
I was like one of those beach balls, never
staying in one spot.
Inside the press box, the music was inau
dible. Press people who wanted to hear the
music could sit in the stands.
Unfortunately, from Section 16, visibility
was rotten — you couldn't see the stars.
Half a mile away, in a yellow-and-whiie
striped tent, celebrities came and went for press
conferences.
In that tent, boyish-faced, gray-haired Arlo
Guthrie modestly received praise from a dairy
farmer who told reporters how Guthrie had
staged an $8,000 benefit to help save her farm.
Guthrie joked while advocating family farm
ing as opposed to big corporation farming. “I
don’t want to eat square tomatoes,” he said,
“just because its easier to package them that
way.”
When asked what people should do to help
the farmers’ cause, Native American poet and
singer John Trudell had a suggestion.
“Be real,” he said. “Be very, very real. Now
is not a lime to be silent.”
Nor was it lime to be silent on stage — not
for Zaca Creek, a hard-rocking country group
consisting of the four Foss brothers. It’s a group
I’d nominate for best Farm Aid performance—
and best lookers.
When the winning band of the Jose Cuervo
“Quest for Gold" talent contest was announced.
Jagged Edge had its first television debut, play
ing “Fiddlin’ Man.”
' Guitarist Scott Shelly told me the band had
been together less than a year, but had a wide
range of musical influence and experience be
hind them.
. “I’ve played with Dan Fogelberg and Randy
Misner,” Shelly said.
That might explain why Shelly, with long
blond hair and a black trench coal, had that rock
star glow, like "fiddlin’ man” Oakley Tyger
and die other four members.
“It all happened so fast,” Tyger said, beam
ing. “All of a sudden we were up there on stage
with Willie Nelson and announced as the win
ners.”
As the day wore on, the music got louder, the
sets longer and the names bigger — Tom and
Roscanne Arnold, Sawyer Brown, Bruce
Hornsby, Ringo Starr and Marty Stuart, to name
h few.
When Bryan Adams hit the stage, the lights
came on and Farm Aid look on a new concert
dimension.
Reluctantly, we left before the last perform
ers, Neil Young and John Mellcncamp, played.
Our mission: to drive home while we were
still fueled by the excitement of Farm Aid VI.
To make a donation to Farm Aid, you can
call 1-800-FARM AID.
