Willie Nelson Sets Sights On Minnesota For Farm Aid 2000

Farm Aid president/country music legend Willie Nelson emerged from a closed-door meeting with Minnesota wrestler/governor Jesse Ventura on Tuesday (9/1) and stated that Minnesota might be a good place to hold next year's Farm Aid benefit. Meanwhile, Keb' Mo' and Bare Jr. have been added to the already-crowded bill for this year's Farm Aid show.

During their meeting, Nelson and Ventura reportedly debated -- with testosterone-laced gusto -- federal farm policy. Ventura, according to various news reports, argued that further government intervention in farm policy is unnecessary, while Nelson countered that the government should create new programs to ensure that farmers would at least break even on their crops.

The U.S. Congress continues to debate assistance packages that would pump an estimated $8 billion into the nation's farms. Farmers have seen prices plummet since the passage of the ''Freedom to Farm'' law in 1996. That legislation eliminated government restrictions on what farmers could plant and removed most farm subsidy payments, which often protected farmers from price downturns.

In the end, Nelson and Ventura reportedly agreed that they're both in favor of a thriving farming sector, but disagreed on the path to prosperity.

Ventura didn't endear himself to Minnesota farmers when he recently skipped a farm rally in his state in order to appear as a referee in a World Wrestling Federation match.

A final decision on the site of next year's Farm Aid benefit won't be made until after this year's show, which is set for Sept. 12 at Nissan Pavilion near Washington, D.C. Previously-announced performers for the daylong event include Farm Aid founders Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp, as well as the Dave Matthews Band, Trisha Yearwood, Mandy Barnett, Barenaked Ladies, Deana Carter, Sawyer Brown, Susan Tedeschi, Steve Earle, Larry Gatlin, and the Supersuckers.

Tickets for Farm Aid, priced from $65 to $27.50, remain on sale locally via the numbers (703) 573-SEAT, (202) 432-SEAT or (410) 481-SEAT and nationally via the Farm Aid and Cellar Door Concerts web sites.