Anticipation ran high for Neil Young's performance, which was his first public gig without Crosby, Stills and Nash in more than a year. Backed by an eight-piece band, including longtime sidemen Ben Keith and Spooner Oldham and his wife, Peggy, Neil played six songs that all related to farming in one way or another. Half the tunes in the set were drawn from his 1978 album Comes a Time. After opening with the obscure gem "Field of Opportunity," Young brought out Nelson to join him on "Homegrown," his mid-1970s ode to weed. "That should have been written for Willie," Young joked. "But I didn't know him at the time." The set continued with "After the Garden," Ian & Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds," and "Harvest Moon," before finishing up with a touching take on "Human Highway." As he has every year, Nelson capped off the night, singing the song he penned for Patsy Cline, "Crazy," plus "Whiskey River" and "Good Hearted Women."
At twenty-one years old, Farm Aid remains the longest running charity concert of all time. This year's show earned $1.1 million, adding to the nearly $30 million it has grossed since its creation in 1985. To watch highlights from the show or donate money go to www.farmaid.org