Local dairy to host free concert to raise awareness for farmer mental health
On Friday, Sept. 4, local dairy farmer Jeremy Holst’s hay shed will turn into a concert venue. The Holst farm is one of many stops on country music artist Jeff Corle’s “Barnstorming Tour of America.”
From Cows to Country Music
The musician is a former dairy farmer himself. This tour was born of his desire to normalize conversations around farmer and rural mental health and raise funds for organizations that provide support.
Corle’s song, “Empty Barn,” expresses “the pain and heartache I felt when economic circumstances beyond my control forced me to shut down my fourth-generation dairy farm and sell my cows.” The song, along with the story behind it, went viral in 2022.
The musician explains, “When I faced my own farmer mental health crisis a few years ago, I was fortunate to have my guitar and songwriting as a way to express myself and to let people know what I was feeling. That in turn, allowed others to lend me their love, support, and encouragement which was absolutely crucial to my healing journey.”
Bringing Town and Country Together
Jeremy Holst has been following Corle’s journey since that viral moment. He saw hosting a stop on the Barnstorming Tour as “a great opportunity for the community (town and country) to come together and have a fun night while also learning what we can do for each other and the help that’s available for mental health issues.”
That blend of entertainment and purpose is at the heart of Corle’s mission. By bringing people together on working farms hosted by locals like Holst, Corle aims to break down isolation, connect folks with valuable resources, and foster intergenerational dialogue—all while putting on a dynamic show. It’s a vision built on the hospitality of “wonderful hosts who open their farms and barns to strangers – well, strangers at the start, but we’re all friends by the end of the show!”
Free Concert and Community Event
This event is free! Concertgoers can expect an evening of music, storytelling, classic farmer humor and kid-friendly fun. The entertainment kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Holst Farm, 30302 670th St., Lake City.
Holst emphasizes that this is a family event, adding, “Everyone’s welcome to come out and enjoy some music, fellowship, and ice cream.”
To learn more about the Barnstorming Tour, visit jeffcorlemusic.com/the-barnstorming-tour-of-america.