It all began in the basement of John Finn’s house on Columbus Day weekend in 2003. Wanting to celebrate his newly built home and give his fledgling bands a run on a stage (any stage), Livestock was born. The first year, John played in two of the headliners, Pispoure and the El Mighty Chicos. Disciples of Agriculture, with brother Danny, and Bovina’s own College Farm, filled out the small, but rocking, bill. It was deemed a success by the modest audience of 60 crowded into the cellar, so John figured this event had legs.

Over the next several years, Livestock! remained a Columbus Day weekend event, timed to coincide with the showiest stage of fall’s foliage. Each year, John reached out to bands, big and small, enticing them to a big party in the country where they could play to their heart’s content and drink copious amounts of beer. Although the autumnal theme was enticing, the weather did not always cooperate. One year saw torrential storms, and the nip in the air each year, felt a bit colder for musicians playing in the elements. Eventually the festival was moved to earlier in the year, and it now hovers around the Labor Day weekend, ensuring better weather and swims in the pond.

2006 was notable for the addition of catered food, a tradition, which has carried on to today. Leshikar’s barbeque is on the menu, compliments of Nathan Carter, who carts his smoker from Virginia each year. Pulled pork and a line-up of traditional side dishes has the Livestock audience clamoring for more every year. Attendees stock the dessert table with homemade sweets of all kinds, a tradition that started in the early years of Livestock.

In 2007, the barn was built, and it was time to move the musicians from the temporary outdoor stages into the property’s newest digs. Livestock 2007 took place under the eaves of freshly cut pine, with musicians setting up on the heels of the electrician who was putting the finishing touches on the lighting system.

It was 2008 that John considers one of the festival’s standout musical year’s with guest performers, Mojo Switch, Grainbelt, Marwood, The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys, The Teenage Prayers with a Barn Set that included: Disciples of Agriculture, Steve Shiffman and the Land of No, Steve Wynn and the Miracle of Three, College Farm, and Dan Baird and the Homemade Sin. 2012 was also a notable year with a raucous and rocking performance by Louisiana’s Dash, Rip, Rock.

As the show grew, so did the organizing team. John’s partner, Wendy Buerge, came on board to corral bands, get the grounds ready, order supplies and attend to the myriad duties that pulling off the annual festival demands. The Colorado Collins’ crew also pitches in each year with spirited battles over who will drive the coveted four wheeler, "the Rhino” that has become the instrumental tool in getting items from point A to point B. The family affair extends into the community where many hands pitch in to make the party a memorable one.

These days, the crowds swell to 300, the hayfield parking lot fills by noon, campers nab their spots and Livestockers, young and old, meander from pond to porch, amphitheater to barn and back again, taking in the day’s poetry -- hummed, crooned, howled, and sung to them as an anthem of Bovina.

Livestock Foundation

Livestock Music Festival helps feed the coffers of the Livestock Foundation. The foundation was started to preserve the rural way of life in Delaware County and surrounding regions by promoting and supporting local businesses, farmers and trades people through educational and outreach programs. Our goal is to directly, positively affect the local economy thus ensuring long-term sustainability in the region.

Please visit the Livestock Foundation website to see the types of programs we fund. If you feel inspired, consider making a tax-deductible donation to the foundation. Thank you for your interest.