CLA Experts at Farm Aid 40
This Saturday, September 20, the University of Minnesota campus will buzz with the energy of Farm Aid 40, a national movement dedicated to keeping family farmers on their land. While the concert itself promises a day of incredible music and community, the College of Liberal Arts has been actively involved in a rich tapestry of events leading up to the main stage, demonstrating our deep commitment to understanding and shaping the future of food, agriculture, and rural communities.
As a proud sponsor of Farm Aid 40, the University of Minnesota is a natural host for this vital event. But within that broader sponsorship, CLA stands out with a unique and multifaceted engagement. Our faculty and staff are not just attendees; they are active participants, contributors, and educators, bringing liberal arts perspectives to the forefront of critical conversations about our food system.
A Week of Engaged Scholarship
The "Week of Farm Aid" events, held across campus and the wider community, have provided a powerful platform for CLA scholars to share their expertise. Our involvement spans diverse disciplines, showcasing the interdisciplinary strength of the liberal arts in tackling complex issues.
Faculty and staff involved with these events:
- Andre Deckrow (History and Heritage Studies & Public History)
- Tracey Deutsch (History)
- Sumanth Gopinath (School of Music)
- Dominique Hazzard (African American & African Studies)
- Will Jones (History)
- Yuichiro Onishi (African American & African Studies and Liberal Arts Engagement Hub)
- Amanda Steepleton (Liberal Arts Engagement Hub)
- Patrick Warfield (School of Music)
- Yolanda Williams (School of Music)
Featured events
These events featuring CLA faculty and staff are free and open to the public.
Tuesday, September 16
Black Food Politics, History and Transformation: Reimagining Food Systems from Below
The roundtable session centers the energy, deep history, and significance of Black activism around food and farming.
Friday, September 19
Amplifying Inclusion: A Conversation with Rissi Palmer of Color Me Country Radio
This roundtable features Rissi Palmer, the celebrated Black woman country artist and host of Color Me Country Radio.
Why This Matters for CLA
CLA's deep involvement in Farm Aid 40 underscores several core tenets of our mission:
- Public Engagement: We believe that the insights generated within the University have a vital role to play in addressing societal challenges. Farm Aid provides a direct conduit for our scholars to connect with the public, share research, and contribute to meaningful dialogue.
- Interdisciplinary Scholarship: The issues facing family farmers—economic viability, environmental sustainability, social justice, and cultural heritage—cannot be understood through a single disciplinary lens. CLA's diverse contributions highlight how history, music, cultural studies, and engagement work together to illuminate complex problems.
- Education for Impact: Andre Deckrow's Farm Aid-themed public history course is just one example of how we are preparing the next generation of leaders and citizens to engage critically and constructively with real-world issues.
- Community Building: By participating in Farm Aid, CLA strengthens its ties with local and national communities dedicated to a more just and sustainable food system.
As we celebrate Farm Aid 40, we celebrate not only the resilience of family farmers but also the vibrant, engaged scholarship within the College of Liberal Arts that strives to cultivate a better future for all.
This article was written by Google Gemini and edited by a human.
