BURLEY--At a feedlot outsize of Burley, Idaho, Its lunchtime. On this day it's even more special because a fresh shipment of hay is coming in from Menan.
Farmer/truck driver Craig Phillips is not self quarantined because of the corona flu virus, he’s, working through the pandemic, keeping the nation's food supply going when almost every other aspect of society is shutting down.
"Cows got to eat, just like we do. We got to feed these cows and get them seent out to packers so people can eat steak and hamburgers, and whatever else," said Phillips.
Phillips posted a thought-provoking post on his Facebook page—saying that in times of long lines at the grocery store, there are no food shortages and that the nation’s Farmers won’t let it happen.
"So everyone has been worried about toilet paper, sanitary wipes and the mythical lack of food, I'm pretty sure the Ag Industry and Idaho farmers will not let that happen. We aren't going to let people starve. We will continue to do our daily tasks whether if we are quarantined or not we have America to help feed. We are doing the best we can to do our part to help feed America," added Phillips.
Phillips and fellow Idaho farmers feel a renewed sense of duty, nothing is more important than the food supply.
"So without the food supply, we are all going to starve. We are pretty much helpless. Everyone is so reliant on going to the grocery store to pick up what they need off the shelf, whether it's Walmart or their local food store and that food has to come from somewhere, it doesn't magically appear on the shelf. There are people working behind the scenes that provide those things for you," according to Phillips.
Phillips says he'll keep working long hours through the great pandemic, risking illness, growing his crop and delivering hay. "It's a very humbling experience to know that we are maybe getting recognition for the hard work we actually do, maybe someday people won't take us for granted," concluded Phillips.
