Hilery begin his military career in 1968 after his junior year of college at Southern University, in Louisiana. His tour in Vietnam however had the most profound effect on his life. It was there that he came to realize the value of life and how courage can define a human being.
Hilery always thought of himself as a religious person, but he was able to find his spirituality and that gave the things that he did a meaningful reason for doing it. He still struggles sometimes with the war, but caring for his animals and growing his garden allows him to find an inter peace.
"The most important traits that I think that the Army taught me about was to first get the facts, make a plan, lay a foundation, and pay attention to details while executing the plan. In farming each year, I have to assess what went well the previous year. What has changed in my market. Has my customer base changed and do I need to change my mix. Do I have new competition for my customer base. What was profitable and what was not. I would call that getting the facts. The Farmer Veteran Coalition has allowed me to share my farm and farming knowledge with other veterans."
Hilery's agriculture enterprise strives to grow wholesome, nutrient-rich organic food using regenerative and sustainable practices. They are committed to trying new innovations, the use of modern technology, and best management practices. They strive to promote practices that maximize the land’s potential, while preserving its ecological balance, through the use of renewable energy and directed innovation. As an agricultural enterprise, they are dedicated to protection and stewardship, through environmental conservation and preservation, simultaneous with economic growth.
Driftwood Farm is a small-scale, locally-owned farm that provides organically grown products to the Lake Charles, LA community. They focus their marketing on the North Lake Charles area because of its classification as a food desert. They have a 65-acre farm where they grow fresh vegetables, grass-fed beef, grass-fed lambs, and an open-range poultry and eggs. The owner is retired and can devote full-time to the operation.
"Farming has allowed me a way to give back to my community and help to heal the local ecosystem. I am able to provide fresh and nutritious food to members of my community. This reduces the reliance on food that is trucked thousands of miles. I am able to be a land steward of ancestral lands that have been in the family for many generations. I am the eighth generation of Gobert to farm in south Louisiana. I know that my farm creates a significant economic value in my community by keeping the food dollar local."
