COVID-19 claimed the life of a Lubbock area cotton farmer, but the community stepped in to help his family
49 year old Layne Adams of Crosby County died of the virus on October 12th, just days after he buried his mother. She also had the virus. As he got sicker, he called good friend Tom Gregory and asked for help with the family's cotton, corn and wheat farm, which has been in their family for generations.
Adam's daughter Haileigh Muehlstein says Gregory didn't hesitate. She says "They had a conversation along the lines that if anything were to happen, I hope you would have a hand in taking care of it. Tom started reached out to different farmers."
She says Gregory got into contact with a local tractor house Hurst Farm Supply and they got into contact with William Clark Green Cotton Relief Fund which donated fuel.
The group put a harvest day together and this week, harvesting 1500 acres of cotton in 24 hours. 75 farmers helped out with their own tractors. Fuel was donated. She says a harvest like that usually takes two and a half months.
"We're very fortunate to have such a great community. Even our gin managers said we would be pushed to the front of the line so we could get our cotton sold so y'all can get money in the bank and pay off debts for the rest of the year. No matter if a person is there or not, you still have debts to pay."
Muehlstein says the family will never let go of their land. "Land is the only thing they'll never make more of."
She adds "we feel very lucky to be surrounded by so much love and such a great community."