Over forty Mid-Missouri family farmers and rural citizens took a break from harvest at the end of September to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, for this year's Farm Aid Concert and Events. Members of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC) sent a message about the importance of family farmers to a vital and resilient America that can remain strong in the face of adversity, and to demonstrate their solidarity for all of those affected by the World Trade Center bombing in New York.

Patchwork Family Farms, a cooperative effort of Mid-Missouri hog farmers and the economic development project of MRCC, has teamed up with Farm Aid to donate 5000 pounds of sustainably-raised pork products to the relief effort. This food-aid is being distributed by the New York City Central Labor Council to workers who are currently experiencing economic hardships as a result of the attack. Patchwork farmers drove the products to New York after the Farm Aid concert, and met with New York labor leaders on Tuesday, October 2.

"At times like this, we all do what we can to strengthen our country. Our role as farmers is on our farms producing the food that feeds our nation," said Roger Allison, a Missouri crop and livestock farmer with Patchwork Family Farms and MRCC. "Farmers have endured many economic and natural disasters, and we understand the importance of reaching out with unity and compassion to our friends and neighbors in need."

Harold Schaitberger, President of the International Association of Fire Fighters and also a vice-president of the national AFL-CIO, said he was proud to accept the donated food to assist the families of thousands of workers in New York who were killed or lost their jobs as a result of the September 11 tragedy.

"Farm Aid is proud to join family farmers in the relief effort," said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. "For 16 years, Farm Aid has connected rural and urban Americans in a common effort to provide for a future of healthy food produced by family farmers. These difficult days are revealing the alliances that link Americans and will ultimately forge a stronger unity."

• Family Farmers Rally for America
  Take 6,000 lbs of pork from the Heartland to Harlem
  Lindsay Howerton and Bryce Oates
  Columbia, Missouri -- New Castle, Indiana -- New York, New York