35 Years of Farm Aid Still Going Strong

Cambridge, MA - September 27, 2020 - (The Stuff Gazette) -- Farm Aid marked its 35th anniversary today with Farm Aid 2020 On the Road, a three-and-a-half-hour, virtual at-home festival featuring 22 artists who helped showcase the critical need for family farmers, the food they produce and their care for soil and water amid a time of unprecedented upheaval in our country, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary calls for racial justice.

Since its start in 1985, Farm Aid has connected to farmers through its hotline and farm organization partners and deployed funds and resources to help farm families address multiple challenges. The 2020 festival comes amid extreme stress in the farm economy, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. As a result, thousands of family farmers are at risk of going under. Farm Aid President and Founder Willie Nelson said there is now even more urgency to support local farm communities and Farm Aid.

"The pandemic has shown everyone that our corporate-dominated food system is fragile and unjust," said Nelson. "Now more than ever, it should be clear to all of us how much we need family farmers and why it's so important to listen to them and support efforts — at home, locally and nationally — to keep them on the land."

Nelson joined a Farm Aid 2020 On the Road lineup that also featured Farm Aid board members John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews, along with Black Pumas, Bonnie Raitt and Boz Scaggs, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Edie Brickell with Charlie Sexton, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Jon Batiste, Kelsey Waldon, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Particle Kid, The Record Company, Valerie June and The War And Treaty.

During the virtual festival, Rhonda Perry and Roger Allison, farmers and founders of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a vulnerable dominant food system that works intentionally to maximize corporate power and profits, while putting the health of soil and water, farmers and workers, communities and people at risk.

The virtual festival also showcased the diversity and strength of family farmers, demonstrating that a thriving movement — especially of young farmers; Black, brown and Indigenous farmers; and women farmers — is leading the way for conversations, strategies and change to create a more democratic farm and food system. Louisiana farmers Angie and June Provost discussed their experience with racial discrimination in lending that ultimately resulted in the loss of their farm. Many other farmers from across the country were featured in video montages that showcased the reasons farmers do the work they do, the challenges they face, and their hopes for the future of agriculture.

The goal of the virtual festival is to raise critical funds for and awareness of the organization's mission, which it typically does through ticket sales to the annual in-person music and food festival. Farm Aid accepts donations at www.farmaid.org/donate. Farm Aid 2020 merchandise, which also supports the organization's year-round work, may be purchased by clicking HERE.

Additionally, Farm Aid's online silent auction launched today with exclusive trips and artist-signed memorabilia, including several "from the vault" guitars and prints from previous Farm Aid festivals. The online auction can be accessed at farmaid.org/auction until Friday, Oct. 9. All proceeds will benefit the organization. Sponsors of this year's event include ButcherBox, Farmer Focus, Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs, and Horizon Organic. Stories of sponsors' farmer suppliers were also featured in the festival. Farm Aid 2020 On the Road aired on FarmAid.org, YouTube, and AXS TV, as well as on SiriusXM's Willie's Roadhouse (channel 59) and Dave Matthews Band Radio (channel 30). The program will be available for viewing in its entirety for the next five days on farmaid.org. Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For more than 30 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised nearly $60 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Velázquez, Chabot Introduce Resolution In Honor of National Small Business Week

Washington D.C. - September 23, 2020 - (The Stuff Gazette) -- House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) introduced a resolution to recognize September 22nd to September 24th as National Small Business Week. The week has been observed annually since 1963 to commemorate the contributions of small business owners and their more than 60 million employees.

“National Small Business Week is a celebration of America’s 30 million-plus small businesses and all that they do for our communities and economies,” said Chairwoman Velázquez. “As we celebrate this year, small firms across the country face unprecedented challenges, but their entrepreneurial spirit remains as strong as ever. As Chairwoman of this Committee, I am proud to fight for these businesses daily and work to ensure that they have the resources needed to recover. With this resolution, I join Ranking Member Chabot and many of my colleagues in acknowledging the achievements of American small businesses and the impact that they have every day.”

“While this year’s National Small Business Week looks a bit different than years past, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to America’s entrepreneurs. From the corner deli to the high-tech startup, small businesses drive innovation and play an outsized role in our economy,” said Ranking Member Chabot. “This year, even as they faced monumental challenges, they have demonstrated incredible resilience and ingenuity. I am proud to stand with Chairwoman Velázquez to honor and recognize their contributions to our nation.”

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar Statement in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

Washington, DC - September 17, 2020 - (The Stuff Gazette) -- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) issued the following statement in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month:

“During this month, people across our country come together to celebrate the incredible contributions and voices of Latinos that enrich our American culture and society.

“Unfortunately, this month of celebration and pride comes at a time when Latinos are being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Latinos are on the frontlines of the pandemic, providing the food on our tables, cleaning our hospitals, teaching our children, and saving lives as health care workers and first responders. Yet, Latinos are three times as likely to become infected with COVID-19 and nearly twice as likely to die from the virus than any other group.

“The pandemic has exposed life-and-death inequities faced by Latinos in our nation, including disparities in income, lack of access to comprehensive health care, and a broken immigration system.

“This month, as we uplift and celebrate the culture, contributions, and resilience of our Latino communities in El Paso and across the country, we must address the structural economic and health inequities exposed by this pandemic.”

Celebrate Better Breakfast Month with 5 Tips from a Pro

Houston, TX - September 17, 2020 - (The Stuff Gazette) -- We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we get it, mornings are tough. Diet buzz words like intermittent fasting, Whole 30, and keto don't make choosing what to eat in the morning any easier. According to Denise Hernandez, M.S. in Nutrition, B.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences, R.D., L.D., starting your day with proper nutrition will fuel your body and help keep you energized. Studies from The American Dietetic Association have also shown that people who eat breakfast have lower obesity rates and higher intakes of micro-nutrients and fiber.

"The Houstonian Club emphasizes the importance of fitness goals and proper nutrition for optimal health. It might be tempting to sleep in, but eating a healthy breakfast is an easy way to keep your body feeling good throughout the day," says Hernandez.

Better Breakfast Tips
1. Protein - Start your day with protein to maximize your body's ability to use muscle building and repair efficiently. Aim for 15-30 grams of protein-based on your daily calorie intake. A high protein, nutrient-rich breakfast is a game-changer and will prevent mid-morning sugar crashes.
2. Variety - Balance your breakfast with a mix of protein, fats, fiber, and good sources of carbohydrates like oatmeal and whole grains.
3. Fiber - Add chia and flaxseed to your breakfast. Not only are chia and flaxseeds a good source of protein, but they are also high in fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids.
4. Eggs – The quintessential breakfast ingredient boasts 6 grams of high-quality protein and all nine essential amino acids. The nutrients don't stop there - they are also rich in choline and lutein, which are crucial for brain health.
5. Meal Prep – Make your mornings easier by meal prepping ahead of time. Bake your eggs and bacon in the oven and store them in the fridge for an easy breakfast option. Healthy pancakes are also an easy option to make ahead and freeze or keep in the refrigerator (see below for recipe).