Louisiana
Soil steward: Louisiana farmer Hilery Gobert teaches climate-friendly farming methods to veterans
Hilery Gobert is the seventh generation Gobert farmer to cultivate southwest Louisiana land. A native of St. Landry parish, Gobert left his father’s farm as a young man, served in the first Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, pursued a career in Atlanta, and then taught small-scale agriculture at a Georgia community college.
After retirement, Gobert bought 65 acres of land and began his own farm with a vision to be climate friendly. His mission has evolved into working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He hosts “field days” with Farm Journal and their foundation, America’s Conservation Ag Movement, in which he instructs farmers on how to use conservation-smart and climate-friendly techniques.
How long have you been farming?
It’s been an off-and-on journey for me. I am the son of a sharecropper. However, when I finished high school, I went straight into college, into the military and then into private business.
When COVID came, I reevaluated. I lost my wife the year before that as well, after 51 years. I considered where I was, what I wanted to do, and I decided I really wanted to come back home, buy a farm and build it up on a regenerative scale, where I can teach other people how to care for the soil and try to convince more people to grow their own food.
Hilery Gobert’s Driftwood Farm.
What drew you to teaching others about climate-smart agriculture?
I worked with the Department of Agriculture and their division (Natural Resources Conservation Service) in Georgia helping people. What I try to do is introduce people to the new technology that’s available in farming.
People really need to educate themselves before they start growing.
I remember as a child growing up and asking my father, who was a great farmer, why we did things a certain way. He said, “Because it works,” but he never understood the science behind it. After I got educated in agriculture, I began realizing what the science behind each of these methods was.
If you can learn the science behind it, it allows you to understand why you’re doing it, and you can improve on what was being done previously.
Military veterans attend a Field Day at Hilery Gobert’s Driftwood Farms to learn about climate-friendly farming.
How did that lead you to working with conservation efforts?
Farm Journal has a foundation which is called the American Agriculture Conservation Movement. They seek out two people in every state to sponsor and help them put on field days to teach others how to become smart on conservation.
I started working with them, and I realized how much more people I could reach. It just makes sense.
I’m trying to contact as many organizations as I can to talk about my farm. But it’s not so much my farm, it can be any farm that is using organic conservation methods. We need to get this word out to more people.
What are some aspects of conservation in farming?
We’re looking to make efficient use of all of the tools we have in order to negate the changes that are taking place in our climate. Regardless of how or why you believe that the climate is changing, we have to realize that the climate is in fact, changing. We have to address that right now.
One of the thoughts behind the science of why the climate is changing is because of the amount of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere. So, in climate smart farming, one of the key things we try to do is capture carbon and place it in the soil, which is where it came from in the first place.
Hilery Gobert’s animals out to pasture at Driftwood Farms.
I’m an organic farmer, which means I don’t use any pesticides or chemicals whatsoever on the farm. I also try to reduce tillage because that keeps more carbon in the soil.
Conserving water is another problem. We see a lot of farms with big overhead sprinkles that are shooting water up into the air. Almost 20% of that water evaporates before it hits the ground. I use drip irrigation where I’m releasing the water at ground level right at the roots of the plant, underneath a canopy of mulch, to conserve that water.
With the drip irrigation method, I’m growing rice with less than 20% of the amount of water that the average farmer in Louisiana uses to grow rice.
Cover cropping is growing an entire crop that you’re not going to harvest, but that you till back into the soil to restore the organic matter.
In what ways do you try to promote biodiversity and soil health?
The Field Days with Farm Journal. One group we worked with is the Veteran Farmers Coalition, which is primarily aimed toward veterans who are considering starting a farm. At our last Field Day we had 39 veterans who learned about programs that are available to them from various government agencies.
Unfortunately, small farms have a large failure rate, and most times, I feel that it’s because they simply weren’t educated enough when they started to grow their produce. I push for more education prior to starting a farm.
The whole idea of regenerative and climate-smart agriculture is to produce high-quality food that is nutrient dense while improving the condition of the soil.
What do you want our readers to know about farming in Louisiana?
We need to support the farmers more than we do now, especially the small farmers who own less than a couple of 1,000 acres. They don’t get the amount of support as the larger corporate farms do. We need an opportunity for them to get educated on all of the current science that we have in production methods.
For more information, visit driftwoodfarminiowa.com and America’s Conservation Ag Movement for a short video.
Here are the high school football scores from the second round of the Playoffs for the state of Louisiana:
Non-Select=
Division I=
Airline 42, Westgate 16
Destrehan 63, Shreveport Northwood 21
Neville 44, Covington 13
Ruston 42, Zachary 21
Southside 47, Walker 0
West Monroe 20, Mandeville 9
Division II=
Franklin Parish 35, Brusly 14
Franklinton 42, West Feliciana 21
Iowa 24, Wossman 8
Lakeshore 17, Iota 10
North DeSoto 38, Belle Chasse 14
Opelousas 30, Jennings 19
Division III=
Jena 56, Port Allen 20
Kinder 28, Westlake 12
Oak Grove 62, Mansfield 14
Pine 21, Kaplan 6
St. James 48, Donaldsonville 6
Sterlington 49, Lakeside 18
Union Parish 42, Red River 8
Division IV=
Franklin 22, DeQuincy 19
General Trass (Lake Providence) 38, North Iberville 6
Haynesville 61, Montgomery 0
Jeanerette 46, Grand Lake 24
Logansport 49, Elton 12
Mangham 44, West St. John 6
South Plaquemines 21, East Feliciana 6
Select=
Division I=
Alexandria 49, Evangel Christian Academy 6
Baton Rouge Catholic 42, East Jefferson 0
C.E. Byrd 37, Saint Paul’s 15
John Curtis Christian 28, Acadiana 27
Karr 56, Huntington 6
Division II=
E.D. White 51, Livingston Collegiate Academy 14
Leesville 42, Loyola Prep 24
Madison Prep 34, St. Charles Catholic 20
Shaw 49, Loranger 14
Vandebilt Catholic 49, Hannan 9
Division III=
Baton Rouge Episcopal 24, Pope John Paul 7
Bunkie 39, Amite 14
Calvary Baptist Academy 38, De La Salle 0
Dunham 42, Parkview Baptist 0
Lafayette Christian Academy 35, NDHS 28
New Iberia Catholic 59, Northlake Christian 22
Newman 49, D’Arbonne Woods 19
Sumner 48, Slaughter 28
Division IV=
Ascension Catholic 58, Opelousas Catholic 13
Covenant Christian Academy 41, Central Catholic 13
Kentwood 42, Ascension Episcopal 16
Ouachita Christian 28, Pointe Coupee Catholic 6
Riverside Academy 49, Hamilton Christian Academy 6
St. Edmund Catholic 78, St. Martin’s 37
Vermilion Catholic 47, Westminster Christian 17
If things go according to conservative lawmakers’ plan, Louisiana children will be tried as adults and sent to adult prisons more often in the future, because the Legislature could increase the number of crimes for which minors can be prosecuted as adults.
Oh, you thought Gov. Jeff Landry’s third special legislative session was all about tax reform?
You’re not wrong. Taxation is the main focus. But it’s not the only agenda item.
Even as lawmakers see crime decline across Louisiana, many still preach the myth that sending more children to adult facilities makes us all safer. It allows them to campaign on “lock ’em up” and “tough on crime” platforms.
State Sens. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, and Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, and state Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, quietly secured legislative approval of a proposed constitutional amendment toward that end in the just-ended special session. They were able to do it because most Louisianans remained focused on Gov. Jeff Landry’s efforts to reduce personal income taxes on the rich while raising Louisiana’s combined sales tax rate to the highest in the nation.
All the noise about tax reform provided the perfect cover for Cloud, Morris and Villio to find new ways to punish our youth. Their Senate Bill 2 glided through the legislative process without so much as a minor headwind.
Truth be told, Landry was right to call his third special session this year to push his tax reform ideas.
For far too long we haven’t had serious legislative debates about how best to raise Louisiana from near the bottom among states where businesses want to relocate and bring good jobs. The problem with focusing solely on tax reform is that businesses consider more than just taxation when they locate or expand. They also consider housing quality, employee-friendly laws and practices, quality K-12 and higher education, public safety and other quality-of-life factors.
Fortunately, overall crime has been declining in Louisiana.
That apparently means little to politicians who want to make crime more than a party-line talking point. Some simply want to put more people, especially minors, behind bars. The proposed constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would allow lawmakers to treat 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds as adults without asking citizens if that’s what they want.
Our state constitution already allows lawmakers to authorize — by a two-thirds vote in each chamber — special juvenile procedures for minors charged with specific offenses:
- First- or second-degree murder
- Manslaughter
- Aggravated rape
- Armed robbery
- Aggravated burglary
- Aggravated kidnapping
- Attempted first-degree murder
- Attempted second-degree murder
- Forcible rape
- Simple rape
- Second-degree kidnapping.
- A second or subsequent aggravated battery
- A second or subsequent aggravated burglary
- A second or subsequent offense of burglary of an inhabited dwelling
- A second or subsequent felony-grade violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law or prohibited transactions in drug-related objects, involving the manufacture, distribution, or possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.
If approved by voters, SB2’s proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate that list and let lawmakers alone — by a two-thirds vote, without voters’ consent — decide which crimes should be “adult” offenses for minors
Imagine the Legislature deciding that a 14-year-old should be tried as an adult because he stole from a store or got into a fight at school. SB2 proponents say some children can’t be rehabilitated. Sigh.
Fortunately, voters will get to decide whether such scared-straight tactics make sense — or will actually attract more businesses to Louisiana. Do SB2’s sponsors really think businesses will come here because we incarcerate more youth? Shouldn’t we instead promote early childhood education and care, healthy living and higher literacy rates?
The governor, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriffs Association have endorsed SB2. But not everyone agrees with them.
“Senate Bill 2 is unnecessary and has the potential to end juvenile justice in Louisiana,” Laramie Griffin, founder of Evolve Louisiana, shared with me. “This bill does nothing to improve public safety.” Griffin added that the bill has an “invisible list,” meaning lawmakers could “add whichever law they choose without public vote.”
The proposed amendment will appear on the next statewide ballot, likely in March. A “yes” vote would let lawmakers decide which crimes committed by minors can land them behind bars with adult criminals. A “no” vote would keep the current list and rule in the constitution.
Let’s not wait to get through the holidays, the new year and Carnival to focus on what this means.
Now is the time to launch a “Vote No!” campaign.
Let’s tell the world that we can be business-friendly, socially responsible and compassionate toward children who make mistakes.
Huntington’s Jamarion Washington is a Times Athlete of the Week.
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U.S. News & World Report has released a database comprised of the top elementary and middle schools in 2025 in each state.
The rankings of schools can even be narrowed down by city and district levels.
Top 10 elementary schools in Louisiana
There are numerous Louisiana elementary and middle schools ranked within U.S. News’ database, and here are the top ten best ranked elementary schools statewide in Louisiana.
No. 1 T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School
According to U.S. News, T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, located in Lake Charles, is ranked number one in Louisiana elementary schools and is a part of Calcasieu Parish Public Schools.
The student population of T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School is 300, and the school serves K-5.
No. 2 Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies
According to U.S. News, Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies is ranked number two in Louisiana Elementary School and is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools.
Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies enrollment is 368 students, and the school is kindergarten through fifth grade.
No. 3 Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies
U.S. News says that Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies is number three in Louisiana Elementary Schools and is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools.
The student enrollment at Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies is 357 and serves the grades pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 4 Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies
Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies in Metairie is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools and is ranked number four in Louisiana Elementary Schools, according to U.S. News.
Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies’ enrollment is 418 students and teaches pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 5 South Highlands Elementary Magnet School
South Highlands Elementary Magnet School in Shreveport is a part of Caddo Parish Public Schools and is ranked number five in Louisiana Elementary Schools, says U.S. News.
The student enrollment at South Highlands Elementary Magnet School is 517 and the school serves grades pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 6 Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School
Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School is part of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools and is ranked number six in Louisiana Elementary Schools, according to U.S. News.
Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School’s student enrollment is 464 and the school serves pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 7 Fairfield Magnet School
Fairfield Magnet School, located in Shreveport, is a part of Caddo Parish Public Schools and is ranked number seven on U.S. News’ list of the top Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Fairfield Magnet School has a student enrollment of 515 and teaches pre-k through fifth grade.
No. 8 Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies
Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies is located in Westwego, which is a part of Jefferson Parish Schools, and is ranked number eight in U.S. News’ list of Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies teaches pre-k through fifth grade and the enrollment is 336 students.
No. 9 Phoenix Magnet Elementary School
Phoenix Magnet Elementary School, located in Alexandria, is a part of Rapides Parish Public Schools and is ranked number nine in U.S. News’ list of the best Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Phoenix Magnet Elementary School serves pre-k through fifth grade and student enrollment is 351.
No. 10 B.R. Foreign Language Academy Immersion Magnet
B.R. Foreign Language Academy Immersion Magnet is a part of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools and is ranked number ten in U.S. News’ list of Louisiana Elementary Schools.
Immersion Magnet’s student enrollment is 548 and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
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