FFA Video
Here are some clips from Farmers’ Almanac TV from the last two FFA conventions and more!
Technorati tags: FFA, John Deere
For The Press | In The 'Nac | Advertise | About Us | Contact Us | Newsletter | Upload Photos to the Fridge
Farmers Almanac Home
sign up to become a member
and receive our free newsletter
and receive our free newsletter
Entries Tagged as 'Farmers' Almanac TV'
Final Thoughts From Farm Aid
The concert is over. One crew went home, the other went on its way to Maine and Nova Scotia. We’re all busy with our next shoot, but I keep replaying snippets of conversation or bits of music over and over in my head. I am so incredibly moved by everything I saw and heard. Everyone we met at the concert sincerely cared about the land they harvested and the family farm.
Most compelling were the farmers themselves. There was Walker Claridge and Kimberly Griffen who told us, “We don’t make much money, but we work hard. We get to be with each other and our son everyday and we get to grow good food.” There was Roger Allison, a man so tall I had to crane my neck and stand on tiptoe to look into his face. This big, burly farmer had nothing but grief written in eyes when he spoke of the loss of his family farm.
At the press conference Willie Nelson said, “We started out to save the family farm – now it looks like the family farm will save us.” I’ve thought a lot about that statement. We have met so many people while working on our show: farmers who just want to grow good food or create clean power; others who are just trying to make a difference in some small way. I think all those efforts are starting to add up in an enormous way. And, as all of us reach toward the land, it will be the farmer, who is there, staunchly pointing the way.
Thank You.
By Renee Bishop, Executive Producer of the Farmers’ Almanac TV show
Farm Aid 2006- Wrap Up
Willie is joined on stage by the Native Americans who helped him open the show. All the artists who played today pack the stage and help Willie sing “Will the Circle be Unbroken” and “I’ll Fly Away.”
Willie thanks the artists, audience and farmers.
Willie and Neil take a final bow and say “See you somewhere next year.” We at Farmers’ Almanac TV hope “next year” will be in our home state of Georgia.
This has been an amazing event and we are so happy to have been here. Some of tonight’s footage will appear in a 30-minute episode about Farm Aid on Farmers’ Almanac TV, which airs on public television. Check your local listings or this map for station times. (Check our website, www.farmersalmanactv.com, as well. Some Farm Aid footage will appear there soon).
Thank you for joining me on this blog.
Renee Bishop, Executive Producer, Farmers’ Almanac TV
Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Willie Nelson
Farm Aid 2006 - Willie Nelson
Wearing his Farmers’ Almanac TV hat, Willie opens with “The City of New Orleans” Neil sings backup for him. The crowd is on it’s feet as he launches into “Whiskey River.” Neil blasts away on his harmonica.
“Good Hearted Woman” brings the audience to it feet. Everyone claps and sings along with the well-loved tune. Willie belts out the last chorus then yells, “Hello there.” The audience loves it and calls back.
He goes into the song that he wrote, Patsy Kline made hers and once more belongs where it began, with Willie. It is of course “Crazy.”
Willie begins to meld once song with another, there are so many well-loved tunes that the audience wants to hear. “Crazy” becomes “My Life.”
He asks the crowd “How you doing?” He then introduces his sister, Bobbie, who plays “Down River” on piano. She wears her signature black hat and dress.
Willie sings, “Help Me Make It Through The Night.” It is a show stopper. These are the songs the audience has come to hear. This is the legend they came to see.
By Renee Bishop, Executive Producer of the Farmers’ Almanac TV show.
Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Willie Nelson
Farm Aid 2006 - Neil Young
Neil Young opens with “It’s Plowing Time Again.” Willie joins him on his second number, “Home Grown.” It’s really clear they enjoy playing together.
In this 21st year of Farm Aid, home grown takes on a new meaning. Neil emphasizes Farm Aid’s message that consumers should support their local farmers by buying locally grown food.
Neil says “We’re looking for some new blood, we need some new farmers.” The audience responds in loud agreement.
His next song asks, “What will people do after the garden is gone?” This question is not asked lightly… It’s what spured all the effort behind Farm Aid.
Strapping on his signature harmonica, he sings his ballad “Strong Winds.”
The crowd then calls out names of favorites they want to hear. He responds by playing “Harvest Moon” to their loud approval.
Neil repeats a quote that Willie Nelson made earlier in the day: “We started out to save the family far, now the family farm is going to save us.”
The ballad is over, so Neil steps it up with “Human Highway” to the crowd’s delight.
Willie is next!
More to come
By Renee Bishop, Executive Producer of Farmers’ Almanac TV
Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Neil Young
Farm Aid 2006 - Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp!
At 8pm, Dave Matthews played a trio of hauntingly beautiful melodies. The audience is enraptured. He began with “Every Day” and followed it with “Crazy,” which kept everyone spellbound.
John Mellencamp followed Matthews and is currently playing. His sound fills the stadium and fields beyond. It is rich with guitar and fiddle. The crowd is on its feet swaying to this big sound and John’s electric presence on stage. Dressed all in black, he is reminiscent of the original man in black himself. As he finishes his second tune the crowd roars its approval and John quickly slams into “Paper in Fire.” The crowd responds by singing along, standing and dancing to the song.
John, on fire himself, has thrown off his jacket, finishes his song and begins to address the audience. They respond in full voice, roaring their approval.
Farm Aid 2006 - Great Balls of Fire!
There is a WHOLE LOT OF SHAKING GOING ON!!!!! Jerry Lee Lewis has this crowd up and screaming. No matter that he is the most senior performer here and he is the hit of the night!
Best of all Willie just joined him on stage wearing a Farmers’ Almanac TV hat. THANK YOU Willie!
Willie and Jerry are on fire. Check out the concert streaming live on www.farmaid.org — then come back to us for more updates.
This party is on fire! Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Jerry Lee Lewis
Farm Aid 2006 - Holy Pig!
Some of our crew had the chance to sample bratwurst from Patchwork Family Farms, and according to one of our producers, “it was the best brat I ever had.” The people of Patchwork are amazing and their product passion for family farming are unprecedented. Patchwork has been supplying food at Farm Aid for several years now and they really are
fantastic people and a good example of why Farm Aid does what it does!
Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Patchwork Family Farms, bratwurst
Farm Aid - Pauline Reese
Rising Star Pauline Reese granted us an interview. She opened the show today with Willie. She talked about how excited she was when she got a call asking if she wanted to participate in this years Farm Aid, she said, “I couldn’t say yes fast enough.”
It’s 6:39 the Los Lonely Boys are on stage. They’re a real crowd pleaser. Willie just joined then and the crowd is going nuts. Everyone is up and dancing.
Willie is jamming on guitar with the band members.
More to come!
Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Los Lonely Boys, Pauline Reese
Farm Aid 2006 - Backstage with Willie Nelson and Danielle Evin
Farmers’ Almanac TV is on location, shooting video at the Farm Aid concert in New Jersey. Here is the sixth post from the event.
We just returned from our interview with Willie Nelson. He graciously hosted us on his tour bus where he talked about the past 21 years with Farm Aid. He also told us about how he got involved with bio-diesel.
We gave him a Farmers’ Almanac TV hat and when our audio operator, Greg Ward, asked him where he could get a Bio-Willie hat, Willie took it off his head and signed it for Greg.
We then ran into Danielle Evin backstage who told us what it was like to be a part of Farm Aid.
Next we were lucky enough to get b-roll from backstage. It is amazing how organized this event is. Each band’s equipment is placed on a rolling wagon back stage so that when one band is finished, the next can be put in place in less than 5 minutes.
More to come
By Renee Bishop, Executive Producer of the Farmers’ Almanac TV show
Technorati tags: Farm Aid, Willie Nelson, Danielle Evin
