Hug Your Farmer

About

Inspired by the legends of country music and the iconic Grand Ole Opry, the evening will showcase performances by Mike & Tessa Gordon, Kat Wright, Ryan Montbleau, Rich Price (of The Sweet Remains), Brett Hughes, Joshua Panda, Lowell Thompson, Nicole Nelson, Dwight Richter, Eric George, Pappy Biondo, Matt Hagen, and more. The Hug Your Farmer house band, led by Bob Wagner (guitar), includes Josh Weinstein (bass), Steve Hadeka (drums), Leon Campos (keys), Caleb Elder (fiddle), Matt Flinner (mandolin) and Brett Lanier (pedal steel). Guest musicians will include Ben Lively (fiddle), Tony Naples (pedal steel), Marie Claire (keys) and Pat Melvin (bass).

Presented by Select, Hug Your Farmer is a beloved benefit series that has raised nearly $400,000 since its inception, providing vital support to Vermont’s farming community. Last year’s sold-out event, Hug Your Farmer: Hard Rain, featured standout performances from Mike Gordon (of Phish), Martin Sexton, Chadwick Stokes (of Dispatch), and Tony Award-winner Kelli O’Hara, raising more than $200,000 for farmers affected by devastating floods.

Hug Your Farmer emcee, Rich Price, shares why this year’s event honors Nashville’s “living museum of country music.” “The Opry is not just an embodiment of the heart and soul of country music; it has always been where performers and audiences cherish the artistry of music and the unique sense of community that it can create. Select organized the first Hug Your Farmer in 2010, and this has always been its guiding spirit."  

Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Vermont Community Foundation’s flood relief efforts. VCF President and CEO Dan Smith emphasizes the power of community support: “Vermonters have always pulled together when times are tough, and music is a unique force that brings us closer. As winter approaches, we are reminded of the farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by flooding. Last year’s event was unforgettable—the energy, the togetherness—it was a testament to our resilience. This year, with the continued support of Select, we’re bringing that same spirit back to The Flynn, raising essential funds for flood relief and lifting our community once again. I’m also excited to share that, for the second year in a row, thanks to a generous donor at the Vermont Community Foundation, every dollar raised during Hug Your Farmer—up to $100,000—will be matched, doubling the impact of your contributions. Let’s come together and show Vermont farmers just how much they mean to us."