Max Yasgur
Encyclopedia
Max B. Yasgur was an American
farmer
, best known as the owner of the dairy farm
in Bethel, New York
at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair
was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.
to Russian Jewish immigrants Samuel and Bella Yasgur. He was raised on the family's farm and attended New York University
, studying real estate law. By the late 1960s, he was the largest milk producer in Sullivan County, New York
. His farm had 650 cows, mostly Guernseys
.
At the time of the festival in 1969, Yasgur was married and had a son and daughter. His son, Sam Yasgur
, was an assistant district attorney in Manhattan at the time of Woodstock.
(located about 40 miles (64.4 km) from Yasgur's farm) and Wallkill
declined to provide a venue for the festival, Yasgur leased one of his farm's fields for a fee that festival sponsors said was $50,000. Soon afterward he began to receive both threatening and supporting phone calls. Some of the calls threatened to burn him out. However, the helpful calls outnumbered the threatening ones.
Opposition to the festival began soon after the festival's relocation to Bethel was announced. Signs were erected around town, saying, "Stop Max's Hippie Music Festival. No 150,000 hippies here. Buy no milk."
Yasgur, a thin man who wore glasses, was 49 at the time of the festival and had a heart condition. He said at the time that he never expected the festival to be quite so big, but that "if the generation gap is to be closed, we older people have to do more than we have done."
Yasgur quickly established a rapport with the concert-goers, providing food at cost or for free. When he heard that some local residents were reportedly selling water to people coming to the concert, he put up a big sign at his big red barn on New York State Route 17B
reading "Free Water." The New York Times reported that Yasgur "slammed a work-hardened fist on the table and demanded of some friends, 'How can anyone ask money for water?'" Sam Yasgur recalled that "he told us to take every empty milk bottle from the plant, fill them with water and give them to the kids, and give away all the milk and milk products we had at the dairy."
At the time of the concert, friends described Yasgur as an individualist, who was motivated as much by his principles as by the money. According to Sam Yasgur, his father agreed to rent the field to the festival organizers because it was a very wet year, which curtailed hay production. The income from the rental would offset the cost of purchasing thousands of bales of hay. However, Max Yasgur believed strongly in freedom of expression, and was angered by the hostility of some townspeople toward "anti-war hippies." It became for him a "cause."
On the third day of the festival just before Joe Cocker
's early afternoon set, Yasgur addressed the crowd.
In 1971, Yasgur sold the 600 acres (2.4 km²) farm, and a year and a half later died in Florida
of a heart attack at the age of 53. He was given a full-page obituary in Rolling Stone magazine, one of the few non-musicians to receive such an honor.
In 1997, the site of the concert and 1400 acres (5.7 km²) surrounding was purchased by Alan Gerry for the purpose of creating the Bethel Woods
Center for the Arts. In August 2007, the 103 acre (0.41682658 km²) parcel that contains Yasgur's former homestead was placed on the market for $8 million by its current owner, Roy Howard. The Woodstock site had been the locale of frequent reunions.
's song 'Woodstock
' (also covered by Eva Cassidy
, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Ian Matthews
and Richie Havens
) was also referring to 'Yasgur's Farm':
In addition, Mountain
(who were also at the festival) recorded a song shortly after the event entitled 'For Yasgur's Farm'.
The Shaw/Blades project with Tommy Shaw (Styx) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger) had a hit song, "My Hallucination" off the "Hallucination" album, that also mentioned the farm: "In Yasgur's Farm a flower grows, where it stops nobody knows, I'm flyin'...."
The band Moon Safari
has a song titled Yasgur's Farm on their album Blomljud
Yasgur is portrayed by Eugene Levy
in Ang Lee
's film Taking Woodstock
.
Sam Yasgur wrote a book about his father, Max B. Yasgur: The Woodstock Festival’s Famous Farmer, in August 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, best known as the owner of the dairy farm
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
in Bethel, New York
Bethel, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population has been estimated at 4,532 in 2007.The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.-...
at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.
Personal life and dairy farming
Yasgur was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Russian Jewish immigrants Samuel and Bella Yasgur. He was raised on the family's farm and attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, studying real estate law. By the late 1960s, he was the largest milk producer in Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
. His farm had 650 cows, mostly Guernseys
Guernsey cattle
The Guernsey is a breed of cattle used in dairy farming. It is fawn and white in colour, and is particularly renowned for the rich flavour of its milk, as well as its hardiness and docile disposition.-Milk:...
.
At the time of the festival in 1969, Yasgur was married and had a son and daughter. His son, Sam Yasgur
Sam Yasgur
Samuel S. "Sam" Yasgur is an attorney; Sullivan County, New York official; and the son of Max Yasgur, who leased land on his dairy farm in Bethel, New York for the Woodstock Music & Art Festival in August 1969....
, was an assistant district attorney in Manhattan at the time of Woodstock.
Woodstock Festival
After area villages SaugertiesSaugerties (town), New York
Saugerties is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County....
(located about 40 miles (64.4 km) from Yasgur's farm) and Wallkill
Wallkill, Orange County, New York
Wallkill is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 24,659 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wallkill is centrally located in the county. Interstate 84 crosses New York State Route 17 in the southern part of the town. U.S...
declined to provide a venue for the festival, Yasgur leased one of his farm's fields for a fee that festival sponsors said was $50,000. Soon afterward he began to receive both threatening and supporting phone calls. Some of the calls threatened to burn him out. However, the helpful calls outnumbered the threatening ones.
Opposition to the festival began soon after the festival's relocation to Bethel was announced. Signs were erected around town, saying, "Stop Max's Hippie Music Festival. No 150,000 hippies here. Buy no milk."
Yasgur, a thin man who wore glasses, was 49 at the time of the festival and had a heart condition. He said at the time that he never expected the festival to be quite so big, but that "if the generation gap is to be closed, we older people have to do more than we have done."
Yasgur quickly established a rapport with the concert-goers, providing food at cost or for free. When he heard that some local residents were reportedly selling water to people coming to the concert, he put up a big sign at his big red barn on New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
reading "Free Water." The New York Times reported that Yasgur "slammed a work-hardened fist on the table and demanded of some friends, 'How can anyone ask money for water?'" Sam Yasgur recalled that "he told us to take every empty milk bottle from the plant, fill them with water and give them to the kids, and give away all the milk and milk products we had at the dairy."
At the time of the concert, friends described Yasgur as an individualist, who was motivated as much by his principles as by the money. According to Sam Yasgur, his father agreed to rent the field to the festival organizers because it was a very wet year, which curtailed hay production. The income from the rental would offset the cost of purchasing thousands of bales of hay. However, Max Yasgur believed strongly in freedom of expression, and was angered by the hostility of some townspeople toward "anti-war hippies." It became for him a "cause."
On the third day of the festival just before Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's early afternoon set, Yasgur addressed the crowd.
After Woodstock
Many of his neighbors turned against him after the festival, and he was no longer welcome at the town general store, but he never regretted his decision to allow the concert on his farm. On January 7, 1970, he was sued by his neighbors for area property damage caused by the attendance of the "flower children". However, the damage to his own property was far more extensive and, over a year later, he received a $50,000 settlement to pay for the near-destruction of his dairy farm. He refused to rent out his farm for a 1970 revival of the festival, saying "As far as I know, I'm going back to running a dairy farm."In 1971, Yasgur sold the 600 acres (2.4 km²) farm, and a year and a half later died in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
of a heart attack at the age of 53. He was given a full-page obituary in Rolling Stone magazine, one of the few non-musicians to receive such an honor.
In 1997, the site of the concert and 1400 acres (5.7 km²) surrounding was purchased by Alan Gerry for the purpose of creating the Bethel Woods
Bethel Woods
The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center and museum located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, New York which took place on a parcel of the original Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm....
Center for the Arts. In August 2007, the 103 acre (0.41682658 km²) parcel that contains Yasgur's former homestead was placed on the market for $8 million by its current owner, Roy Howard. The Woodstock site had been the locale of frequent reunions.
In popular culture
Joni MitchellJoni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
's song 'Woodstock
Woodstock (song)
"Woodstock" is a song about the Woodstock Music and Art Festival of 1969.Joni Mitchell wrote the song from what she had heard from then-boyfriend, Graham Nash, about the festival. She had not been there herself, since she was told it would be more advantageous to appear on The Dick Cavett Show by...
' (also covered by Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Ian Matthews
Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
and Richie Havens
Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
) was also referring to 'Yasgur's Farm':
- I came upon a child of God
- He was walking along the road
- And I asked him where are you going
- This is what he told me
- I'm going on down to Yasgur's farm
- I'm going to join in a rock 'n' roll band
- I'm going to camp out on the land
- I'm going to try an' get my soul free...
In addition, Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
(who were also at the festival) recorded a song shortly after the event entitled 'For Yasgur's Farm'.
The Shaw/Blades project with Tommy Shaw (Styx) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger) had a hit song, "My Hallucination" off the "Hallucination" album, that also mentioned the farm: "In Yasgur's Farm a flower grows, where it stops nobody knows, I'm flyin'...."
The band Moon Safari
Moon Safari (band)
Moon Safari is a progressive rock band from Skellefteå, Sweden. Formed in 2003, the band quickly recorded a demo that caught the attention of Tomas Bodin of The Flower Kings. They have since released three albums on their own label Blomljud....
has a song titled Yasgur's Farm on their album Blomljud
Blomljud
[Blomljud] is the second album release from the Swedish progressive rock band Moon Safari. It is the band's first double album, containing 11 songs of various lengths. It was released in 2008, three years after their debut album, A Doorway to Summer...
Yasgur is portrayed by Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, television director, producer, musician, and writer. He is known for his work in Canadian television series, American movies, and television movies. He is the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the American Pie films, as Noah Levenstein...
in Ang Lee
Ang Lee
Ang Lee is a Taiwanese film director. Lee has directed a diverse set of films such as Eat Drink Man Woman , Sense and Sensibility , Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , Hulk , and Brokeback Mountain , for which he won an Academy...
's film Taking Woodstock
Taking Woodstock
Taking Woodstock is a 2009 American comedy-drama film about the Woodstock Festival of 1969, directed by Ang Lee. The screenplay by James Schamus is based on the memoir Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life by Elliot Tiber and Tom Monte.The film premiered at the 2009 Cannes...
.
Sam Yasgur wrote a book about his father, Max B. Yasgur: The Woodstock Festival’s Famous Farmer, in August 2009.
Quotes
See also
- Michael EavisMichael EavisAthelstan Joseph Michael Eavis, CBE , is an English dairy farmer and the founder of the Glastonbury Festival, which takes place on his farm.-Personal life:...
, the English farmer who has hosted the Glastonbury festival from 1970.