Nelson, Young Concert Draws International Coverage

Antelope County’s population more than doubled on Saturday as over 7,000 people invaded the Art and Helen Tanderup farm for the Harvest The Hope Concert north of Neligh, Nebraska. 

With Willie Nelson and Neil Young headlining the concert served as a benefit to fund Bold Nebraska and the Cowboy & Indian Alliance’s fight against the Keystone XL pipeline. 

Photo Gallery From Event

Nelson said it was important for the cowboys and Indians to come together in the protest.

"As caretakers of our land, family farmers know best what's good for it. We stand with these family farmers fighting for their land, livelihood and community,” Nelson said. 

Young, who spent Friday night at the Tanderup farm and slept in the tipis near the fire, spoke about the last impact of the pipeline. 

"In a time when the ravages of Climate Change are evident, thoughtful people are realizing we are at the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel age. For our grandchildren's survival we must begin to live differently. The Keystone XL pipeline is a large step in the wrong direction for the health of Earth. America must lead the world again and stop the Keystone XL. The Keystone XL pipeline is out of step with the times. Renew. Sustain. End the Pain."

Prior to the press conference, Tribal Presidents with Rosebud Sioux and the Oglala Sioux privately presented Nelson and Young with a Buffalo Hide wrapping. 

The concert near Neligh was the first time Nelson and Young performed together in Nebraska since 1987 at the third Farm Aid concert. The once-in-a-lifetime event brought fans from all over the U.S. and Canada.

The cornfield concert also drew the interest of national and international media. Producers, photographers and reporters from New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Toronto and countless other locations flooded the Tanderup farm to capture the event - some for projects that haven't been publicly announced yet. 

Lyndsay  Duncombe with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said it was important for her to make her first trip to Antelope County because the pipeline is important to Canada’s future, as well as to the United States.

She said the pipeline is an important bilateral issue between the two countries. 

“It’s pretty important to Canadians because Neil Young is Canadian and he’s been very outspoken on issues Canadians are following closely, not only the pipeline route but also the impact of the oil sands in Alberta."

The message of the pipeline was continued throughout the afternoon at the concert. According to the Antelope County Sheriff's Department, the event ran smoothly without any significant issues.