Farm Aid 40 Highlights Collaborations From Lukas Nelson and Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings and Margo Price, Plus More in Minneapolis

Farm Aid, the annual charity concert that raises financial aid for US farmers through the arrival of unparalleled musical performances, returned for its 40th season on Saturday, September 20. The 2025 iteration of the beloved fundraiser brought high-profile acts to the University of Minnesota’s Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where they each performed a handful of songs during their individual sets, before assembling during Willie Nelson’s event-ending set for a series of traditional collaborations. 

The occasion kicked off with up-and-coming acts, who drew from their repertoire of originals and offered a diverse sampling of genres, ranging from country to folk, psychedelic soul, alternative, and indie. As the early afternoon began fading into the evening hours, Lukas Nelson made the most of his stage time. The son of Willie Nelson received help from Dave Matthews, who sat in on Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker.” 

Matthews swapped slots with Sierra Ferrell, who accompanied Lukas on his new American Romance cut, “Friend in the End,” and the POTR feature, “(Forget About) Georgia.” Nodding to his previous collaborator, and Farm Aid co-founder, Lukas and Ferrell covered Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend,” before closing the set after “Find Yourself.” The pair’s on-stage chemistry generated special moments that displayed the strength of their musical partnership. 

For Billy Strings’ stage time, he and his band, Billy Failing, Royal Masat, Alex Hargreaves, and Jarrod Walker drew from originals, turning in setlist staples, “Dust in a Baggie,” “Hellbender,” and “Away From the Mire,” before their first cover, which arrived as the Emmitt-Nershi Band released “New Country Blues.” Highway Prayers’ “Gild The Lily” took the next slot, before their final song, a cover of Jimmie Skinner’s “Doing My Time.” 

Margo Price began her set with a sampling of self-penned songs, before covering Waylon Jennings’ “Kissing You Goodbye” and a poignant pick, Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee.” The highlight of her stage time was Strings’ arrival, as well as Jesse Welles, who all contributed during a fitting cover for the event, Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm.”

Matthews and Tim Reynolds continued the collaborations. After “Oh,” and “Grey Street,” Mathews introduced “Peace on Earth” to the crowd, mentioning it was a first-time arrival at this specific event, despite debuting back in the spring. “Don’t Drink the Water” co-opted lyrics from “This Land is Your Land,” before previous collaborator and member of Lukas Nelson’s band, fiddler Jake Simpson, added depth to “Crush,” “Warehouse,” and a frame end, “Ants Marching.”

During Bob Dylan’s stage time, he performed classics while reprising his charity event slot. Notably, Dylan was not on the initial bill, joining only days before, despite his history with the occasion – having performed at the first-ever 1985 concert, returned via satellite in ’96, and then made an in-person return after an extensive absence in 2023. Dylan’s frame consisted of “All Along the Watchtower,” Bo Diddley’s “I Can Tell,” “To Ramona,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” and ultimately, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.” 

Like Dylan and his band, Young & The Chrome Hearts didn’t invite any guests; instead, they adhered to a tight seven-song frame, beginning with a warning via “Big Crime.” “Rockin’ in the Free World” was a well-placed follow-up and helped cement a theme that came into light with the arrival of the Reagan-era protest anthem, “Long Walk Home.” “Southern Man,” “Hey Hey, My My” and “Old Man.”

As is tradition, Willie Nelson was billed as the final act. The Farm Aid co-founder performed an extensive set, which began with a cover of Johnny Bush’s “Whiskey River,” followed by originals “I Never Cared For You,” Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” and “Will You Remember Mine,” the latter of which included help from Lily Meola. “On the Road Again” preluded covers of Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”

During a take on Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” Waylon Payne led the lyrics, before swapping slots with Micah Nelson, who took over during his own “Everything is Bullshit.” Except for Bob Dylan, all event participants took the stage and joined Nelson on classic combo and a setlist staple from his repertoire, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken/ I’ll Fly Away.” Mac Davis’ “It’s Hard to Be Humble” came before the final song of the night, a big take on Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys original, “I Saw the Light.”

Farm Aid originated in 1985, led by Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young, who leveraged their influence to draw a crowd and raise awareness about the decline of family farms. To support those who feed the masses and keep America’s agricultural system thriving, the trio developed the concept for an annual event that provides financial benefits and gives back to family farmers. 

The nonprofit organization expanded its Board of Directors with Matthews’ arrival in 2001, and two decades later, in 2021, Price joined the elite team. Since its launch, Farm Aid has garnered $80 million, according to the official website, “to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America.”

Historically, Farm Aid has been known for making a musical impression with long-lasting effects on fans seeking something outside the regular concert expectations. Watch the complete concert below.