Farm Aid

Challenge:
To provide logistical and media support to Farm Aid for the production of its annual benefit concerts, which have successfully raised money and provided a voice to America’s family farmers since 1985.

Vanguard Responds:
Vanguard has supported Farm Aid since 1990, and has managed all aspects of the massive media operation at its concerts since 1995. For each concert, which attracts as many as 40 artists, more than 300 reporters and up to 50,000 attendees, Vanguard provides services that include pre-event planning, promotion of ticket sales and live television coverage, media credentialing and management, volunteer coordination, artist interview scheduling, materials development and distribution, and planning and coordination of teleconferences and news conferences. Vanguard works closely with artist management and venue staff to ensure that all aspects of the concert are executed seamlessly. Each year, Vanguard identifies a concert message reflective of current food, farm and agriculture issues and incorporates this message into talking points for staff and artists, press materials and all concert promotions. This message drives media outreach, highlighting the organization’s issues in hundreds of national and regional outlets, above and beyond the entertainment-oriented stories that the concert naturally produces.