Founded in 1996, FARM is a regional chapter of the Folk Alliance International representing the diverse faces of the Midwest Folk community and beyond. It has always been our goal to promote the growth of folk music and dance in the Midwest by doing all we can to foster a sense of community among our members.

Here in the Midwest it is not uncommon for performers to travel fifty miles just to rehearse with their own band, or drive two to three hundred miles between Friday and Saturday night bookings.

As members of a community, we believe in helping each other to develop skills and find places to perform. We encourage presenters to cooperate in booking touring musicians. It makes sense for all of us, performers and presenters alike, to come together as often as we can to meet, talk, learn from, dance and sing with each other.

This is the spirit found at our annual FARM gatherings.

We invite you to contribute your talents to this supportive community. Together we promote the growth of Folk music and dance in the Midwest for the good of ourselves, our communities and future generations. We hope this website will suggest ways you can join in.

To serve the purposes of the Folk Alliance International; hold a regional annual folk music and dance conference in the Midwest; to provide a method to represent the interests of our members to the parent Folk Alliance; and to carry out such other projects as are of benefit to the Folk Alliance members in the Midwest and are supported by them.

Download FARM's bylaws (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.