Luke Bryan is taking his love for farming to a whole new level.
The country music star recently started the fall leg of his Farm Tour – a series of shows he performs each year at farms across the country. In a new interview, he explained that the event isn’t just a series of concerts, but also a tribute to his roots and a way to help struggling farming communities in the U.S.
Bryan, who owns a farm outside of Nashville, has always stayed connected to the land.
Growing up in Georgia, where his father owned a peanut farm, Bryan developed a deep respect for the hard work that goes into farming.
“Farmers, and me in that world, who drove the big tractors and had the big pick-up trucks, they were … my heroes,” he said in an interview on the “Today” show.
Sixteen years ago, Bryan decided to hit the road and bring his music straight to rural America.
Now, more than a decade later, the Farm Tour draws 10,000 to 20,000 concertgoers in the fields. His goal is to give fans a special experience that celebrates both music and farming.
Bryan’s tour isn’t just about music. Over the years, he has given out more than 80 scholarships through the event.
This year, the Farm Tour stopped in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, hosted by Kevin and Erica Klon at their Klondike Farm.
The Klons also appeared on the “Today” show to talk about the challenges facing farming in America today.
“We’re losing them, slowly but surely,” Erica said.
Kevin added how much Bryan’s support means to the community.
“The fact that Luke is supporting … he’s very generous with the youth and the nation. It’s just extra special that it’s at our place.”
In addition to his performances, Bryan wants to support farming communities and help boost the industry across America.
“We worked hard to make it feel that way,” he said.
This year, Bryan’s Farm Tour visited California for the first time in the spring. The fall tour began Thursday in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, and will continue with stops in Prairie Grove, Illinois, and Lansing, Michigan, this weekend.
