Tractorcade USA by Larry Long

Описание: Tractorcade USA: Audio visual documentation of the historic farmers' tractorcade to Washington DC for parity in 1979.

In 1979, thousands of farmers from across the United States took part in Tractorcade USA, a historic protest where farmers drove their tractors all the way to Washington, D.C. Their mission: to demand fair farm prices, protection for family farms, and stronger government support during a time of economic crisis.

Organized by the American Agriculture Movement, the Tractorcade protest highlighted the struggles of small family farmers facing mounting debt, foreclosures, and unfair agricultural policies. Convoys of tractors slowly made their way from rural America to the nation’s capital, making headlines and bringing national attention to the farm crisis.

The 1979 Tractorcade stands as one of the most powerful farmer protests in U.S. history—an event that symbolized the fight to keep family farming alive.

Watch this audio visual documentation, directed by Lary Long, the Farmers' Troubadour to learn more about Tractorcade USA, the farmers who took part, and its lasting impact on American agriculture.

Tractorcade USA audio slide show was recorded and photographed during the American Agriculture Movement's tractorcade to Washington DC in 1979.

Tractorcade USA is dedicated to the loving memory of Chuck and
Anne Kanten and to all who drove their tractors to Washington DC in 1979 to save the family farm.

Special thanks to Dale Wiehoff,
Melvin James, Zach Bosle,
Scott Peters, Theresa Berger,
Deborah Ultan, Scott Herold,
Kent Kanten and Bob Trench
for their support.


Credits in order of appearance

David Senter, Farm Aid Historian & President of AAM

Kent Kanten, Family farmer,
Milan, Minnesota

Larry Long, Farmers' Troubadour

‘How You Gonna Keep Them Down On The Farm’ performed by Canby Minnesota 4-H Club

Father Andrew Gottschalk
Hays, Kansas

‘Home On The Farm’ performed by Larry Long with farmers
on the tractorcade.

Bonnie DeBoer
Family farmer, Gosper County,
South-central Nebraska


‘We Came To Washington’ performed and written by tractorcade family farmer Hershel Wilson
with Larry Long

Dave Bonk
Family farmer,
Halloway, Minnesota

Chuck Kanten
Family farmer, Milan, Minnesota; Spokesperson & Commanding Officer of the Upper Midwest American Agriculture Movement’s tractorcade to Washington DC

'Hard Traveling’ performed by
Larry Long; Music by Woody Guthrie; New lyrics by Larry Long

‘We Came To Washington’ performed and written by tractorcade family farmer Hershel Wilson with
Larry Long

Stan DeBoer, Family farmer,
Gosper County,
South-central Nebraska;
American Agriculture
Movement Spokesperson

Gene Schroder, Family farmer & rancher, Campo, Colorado;
Founding member of the American Agriculture Movement

Congressman Rick Nolan
Minnesota 6th District, 1975-1981

‘Hard Traveling’ performed by Larry Long; Music by Woody Guthrie; New lyrics by Larry Long



Producer – Larry Long

Director – Larry Long

Archival Photography – Larry Long

Archival Interviews – Larry Long

Editors – Larry Long & Bob Trench

Director of Photography – Bob Trench

Production Sound – Bob Trench

Second Unit Director – Susan Steiner

Second Unit Cinematographer –
Nancy Serna Guerrero

Second Unit Production Sound –
Emily Strong

Newsreel footage courtesy of University of North Texas Libraries, Copyright KXAS-TV, Fort Worth, Texas

Larry Long's archival photographs & interviews courtesy of the Performing Arts Archive at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Copyright Larry Long 1979; Renewed 2025


Music

Grandma’s Penny Sale (Give a Prayer for the Farmer) by Larry Long;
Copyright Larry Long 1982;
Renewed 2025

‘How You Gonna Keep Them Down On The Farm’ performed by Canby Minnesota 4-H Club

‘Home On The Farm’ performed by Larry Long with farmers
on the tractorcade.

‘We Came To Washington’ performed and written by tractorcade family farmer Hershel Wilson
with Larry Long

'Hard Traveling’ performed by Larry Long; Music by Woody Guthrie; New lyrics by Larry Long

For more information, please visit: www.larrylong.org

Copyright 2025, Larry Long Music

To Help Save the Family Farm Please Visit:

Farm Aid: www.farmaid.org

American Agriculture Movement: www.aaminc.org

Facebook @americanagmovement