Dear John,

It's always fun to hear what artists think of the different aspects of Farm Aid. At the most recent Farm Aid festival this past September, we got that chance with Dave Matthews. We found him backstage and sat down to chat about the food served at Farm Aid and how it affects both farmers and festivalgoers alike.

Meet Ernest Weston, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He was born and raised on a cow-calf operation on the Pine Ridge Reservation on the original allotment his grandparents acquired under the Dawes Act.

Ernest is the Food Sovereignty Program Coordinator at Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, a fitting position, as he has been involved in food all of his life:

“I grew up being taught the importance of growing your own food and nourishing your community. Growing up with those principles guided me and helped me become who I am today.”