Concert to Benefit Nation’s Farmers

Entertainers Willie Nelson and John Cougar Mellencamp joined Gov. James R. Thompson on Saturday in announcing a 12-hour benefit concert to aid the nation’s farmers.

The concert, set for Sept. 22 at the University of Illinois football stadium, is scheduled to feature Waylon Jennings, Charlie Daniels, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, among others, Nelson said.

“Mainly what we want to do is call attention to the problems and let the farmers tell us how we can help,” Nelson said at a news conference at Memorial Stadium.

Nelson noted the success of the recent Live Aid concerts to aid Ethiopian famine victims.