Farm Aid Forced To Consider Cancellation Due To University Of Minnesota Strike

By Andy Kahn Sep 12, 2025 • 12:19 pm PDT

Farm Aid might be forced to cancel or relocate due to a strike at the University Of Minnesota. Organizers of the 40th annual event addressed the issue ahead of the benefit concert slated to take place on Saturday, September 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

This week, service and maintenance workers at the University of Minnesota, where Huntington Bank Stadium is located, went on strike following failed negotiations with the school. Over 1,400 Teamsters Local 320 Union members voted against the contract offered by the U of M, and have been seen in recent days on picket lines across the Twin Cities campus.

The Farm Aid 40 stage is scheduled to begin being built today, Friday, September 20. The family farming fundraiser’s Minnesota debut, slated to take place in eight days, will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price. The lineup also includes Billy Strings, Kenny Chesney, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle, Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Eric Burton (Black Pumas), Jesse Welles and others.

“For nearly 40 years, Farm Aid has stood alongside family farmers, working people and communities to build a more just and sustainable food system,” Farm Aid’s note stated. “Our 40th anniversary celebration, scheduled for September 20 at the University of Minnesota, is intended to honor that history and the resilience of America’s farmers. We want nothing more than to hold this event as planned.”

Organizers urged the University of Minnesota to settle the contract dispute with the union to prevent derailment of Farm Aid 40. The statement made clear Farm Aid would not cross the picket line, despite the harm it could cause the organization.

“It is critical to understand that if Farm Aid 40 is forced to move or cancel, the financial impact could be devastating,” the statement revealed. “The expenses already incurred to bring this historic event to Minnesota may well threaten the survival of our organization after four decades of service to family farmers.”

University Of Minnesota officials provided to media the statement below regarding Farm Aid 40 at Huntington Bank Stadium:

The University is and will remain highly supportive of farmers. The University of Minnesota values the mission and aim of the Farm Aid festival and has gone above and beyond to partner with the organizers to create an exceptional experience for attendees and artists.

We have been engaged in conversation with Farm Aid for months and especially throughout this week. The decision about whether the event moves forward is theirs. It is not a University of Minnesota decision.

The University presented a highly competitive offer to our Teamsters-represented employees, one that supports the important work they do and is financially responsible as a University.

Read Farm Aid’s full statement regarding the University Of Minnesota worker’s strike and view a report from the local NBC outlet.