Bob Dylan’s Surprise Return To Farm Aid In Minnesota

It’s a full circle moment for one of Minnesota’s most iconic singer-songwriters. Bob Dylan, who once helped spark the very idea of Farm Aid, is now returning to the stage as part of the concert’s 40th anniversary celebration, taking place this weekend in Minneapolis.

Farm Aid Celebrates 40 Years in Minnesota

Back in 1985, during the legendary Live Aid concert, Dylan suggested that some of the money raised should go to American farmers who were struggling to keep their land.

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That offhand remark struck a chord. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp soon came together to organize the first Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois. The benefit launched a tradition that continues to this day, raising millions of dollars to support family farmers across the country.

Dylan Joins the Minnesota Lineup

Fast-forward nearly four decades, and Dylan has been announced as a surprise addition to this year’s Farm Aid lineup at Huntington Bank Stadium. He will join Nelson, Young, and Mellencamp, along with Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Trampled By Turtles, and Wynonna Judd. For Minnesota fans, seeing Dylan return to a cause he helped inspire makes the event even more meaningful.

A Global Stage for Farm Aid in MN

For those unable to attend in person, Farm Aid is expanding its reach like never before. CNN will broadcast the concert live for the first time in the event’s history, with streaming available on CNN’s app and website, FarmAid.org, and through Nugs.net without a subscription.

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Event Saved by Last-Minute Agreement

The concert was briefly in jeopardy last week as a labor dispute between the University of Minnesota and Teamsters Local 320 threatened to halt the event. Farm Aid organizers had pledged not to cross a picket line, but a last-minute deal was reached, ensuring the show will go on as planned.