University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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After which, Joe Walsh the forgetta- ble, I mean the unforgettable Joe Walsh, came back and sang his second number. Red-eyed, deaf and tired, not to mention a little hung-over, we walked back to our car and drove home. I am glad I was a part of this memo- rable event which was a good thing for the farmers who are the food suppliers of America (not to mention the great time I had). Michelle Thompson BE1 Above: One of charac- ters Farm Aid III attract- ed came dressed for the occa- sion. Inset: Corelus Rhodehorst, Kear- ney, and Michelle Thompson, Guide Rock, jam at Farm Aid III. Hey ladies, what is in those cups in your hands ?!! came on stage, the crowd waited in antic- ipation for John Cougar Mellencamp, or is it, John Cougar, or maybe, John Mel- lencamp? He was, by far, the best act and hammed it up to the fullest. His songs “Pink Houses” and “Small Town,” real- ly got the crowd hopping! The climax of an already unforget- table evening, the stadium boomed with a few hundred verses of “This land is your land,” and a brilliant, but blinding fireworks display. who had passed out and be able to see where you were going, (for us shorties that’s no small feat). The view once we got down on the ground was awesome — until your vision started to blur from the smell of marajuana. We soon decided to float back up to our seats because we didn’t like the thirsty-eyed looks we were getting from a couple of Hell’s Angels. By this time we were starving for real food Parafanalia tossed at Farm Aid III: — bras — underwear — bologna — plastic cups — hats (cowboy) — shirts — toilet paper — popcorn — friends enemies so we decided to get some popcorn from the boy who was selling it. Another crowd pleaser was the Fab lous Thunderbirds who really got the crowd yelling when he asked “How do you spell love? M-O-N-E-Y!” Joe Walsh was another favorite and people were just beginning to really look alive when the revolving stage started revolving even when he wasn’t done with his act. But he promised, “I’ll be back!” Then came live TV, which started off with once again Willie Nelson. As the crowd grew thicker and more intense, we were realizing that soon would be the close of another historical Farm Aid event. Kris Kristofferson entered the scene and sang on and on for what seemed an eternity of nothing. Each time a new act 29

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presented as a surprise bonus by Joe Walsh, who had technical difficulties PARTYIN’ WITH THE CITY FOLK The impression was left that the entertainers really did care. This was not just publicity. This was real life, put on by and for real people. with the revolving stage earlier in the concert. This was just the token a crowd — tired but not quite ready to finish their experience at Farm Aid — had hoped for. The impression was left that the entertainers really did care. This was not just for publicity. This was real life, put on by and for real people. Angie Steffen BE36 After we checked to see if we had the necessary supplies — junk food, blankets, cool- er, camera and carefully concealed alcohol, we prepared to leave for Farm Aid III! As we entered the gates of Memorial Stadium, at noon, after a thorough checking from the guards, we could feel the excitement of the day’s fes- tivities in the air. We trudged miles and miles, sitting in every available seat, un- til we found a seat with a semi-decent view up in the nosebleed section! We then prepared ourselves for quite a show! First came Willie Nelson who, yes, once again is on the road. He put on a good performance then brought out his “Indian friends” who danced for the crowd in traditional Indian gear. Everyone was so hyped for the day to begin they couldn’t help but dance and sing along. Through the day we heard un- knowns like Boa Constrictor Betty, I A woman and child soak up rays and good vibrations. mean Rattlesnake Annie, and other vari- ous acts. One of the more popular groups was the Unforgiven. The days festivities went on and in between the good acts, we’re talking far in between, what seemed like over a hun- dred million people got a little restless. So to get the tension of the day’s events TTT e trudged for miles and VV miles, sitting in every available seat, until we found a seat with a semi-decent view up in the nosebleed section! We then prepared ourselves for quite a show! out of their system people resorted to the everlasting “Cornhusker” wave. To break the monotony, many drun- kards (by this time that included 3 4 of the crowd) amused themselves by toss- ing toilet paper, plastic Farm Aid III col- lecter’s edition-cups, and various other articles they had with them, for instance: bologna, chips, popcorn, bras, underwear and friends. By this time we were asked kindly by the billboard to stop because “people were getting hurt.” By late afternoon things were really starting to pick up when Steppenwolf sang “Born to Be Wild,” which really got the crowd on their feet. One thing that always boggles one’s mind is, “How come there is never a line at the men’s room but the women’s line circles the stadium at least three times?” Well, I and a bunch of women recruits decided to see for ourselves by storming the men’s bathroom. The men were not happy about this, by the time our idea caught on, there were more women in the bathroom than men. By this time, we decided to see what was happening up front. To get up front, you had to be able to worm your way through scads of people trying not to touch anyone because of the millions of communicable diseases. You also had to have the skill of stepping over people, 28

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4 FOR AMERICA’S FARMERS AND THE CUR- RENT AG ECONOMY. This Land WAS my land A REPORT ON WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS Imagine a farmer standing out in his field where once stood tall, green stalks of corn waiting for harvest. Now on the field, all of the farmer’s belongings except the clothes on his back, are being auctioned away so that he can pay his debts. His wife, standing beside him, clutches his hand as a tear drips down his worry-wrinkled face. For he is thinking: just at the time when he should be thinking of retirement, he has to start anew. Is it drama or real life? How often do you think this happens? Is the farm crisis really getting serious? What is the cause of these problems we are facing in Nebraska? Studies today now show that Nebraska farmland prices have increased slightly, and incomes have improved somewhat. But sev- eral farm experts say they are wor- ried of what lies ahead. Bruce Johnson, University of Nebraska associate professor of agri- cultural economics, said, “We’re still facing some hard adjustment. We’ve seen income improvement for many farm family operations. But 10 to 12 percent of farm families are extremely financially stressed. Many have left farming, and some may terminate.” Recently some farmers have depended on the government as a major source of income. But currently the government is in the process of eliminating farm programs which reduce subsi- dy payments to farmers, as said by Sen. David Karnes R-Neb. in The Sower - a farm publication. At the same time, other 3 x 5 G i O) c 3 countries subsidize grain more and market their crops at lower prices. Studies show that more than 90 percent of Nebraskan farmers depend on some government program. Last year gov- ernment supplied American farmers with $25.3 billion in price supports. Larry Hall, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union said, “Unless farmers begin to receive more money for their grain, low- ering government payments will devastate rural America.” Currently, the United States competes with other countries, such as Western Europe and Ja- pan to sell the cheapest grain. These countries pay more subsidy payments to their farmers, which makes their products more marketable than the United States’. Dale Anderson, UNL agricultural economics professor, said the fate of the agricultural economy lies with the survival of farm programs and an ability to export to other countries. Even with the farm economy looking in an upward shift, farmers experienced about a 50 percent decline in land values throughout the past several years. Farmland values have Unless farmers begin to receive more money for their grain, lowering govern ment payments will devastate rural Amer ica.” —Hal