SSG Logan A. Hilgers ARNG (Retired)

Speaker:  SSG Logan Hilgers, ARNG (ret.), Community Outreach Coordinator

Title and Organization:  Growing Veterans

Topic:  Growing Veterans: Connect, Grow, Heal

Organization Bio:

Growing Veterans was founded by a combat-wounded USMC veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, Christopher Brown, and a former mental health counselor turned farmer, Christina Wolf. Together, they agreed that using the farm as the catalyst for human connection and veteran reintegration could have a powerful impact on the health and well-being of not only vets returning home, but the world. They were crazy enough to believe it could happen, and just smart enough to pull it off.

13 years later, Growing Veterans is still connecting, growing, and healing veterans and volunteers with two farms. Our farms are located in Lynden, WA and Greenbank, WA. Over 90% of our organically grown produce is donated to local food banks, fighting food scarcity within our communities.

Growing Veterans' mission is to empower veterans and volunteers to cultivate purpose and belonging by growing food, community, and each other. The vision is to end isolation that leads to suicide. You don't have to be a veteran to get involved; no experience needed, just a desire to connect, heal, and grow. We believe everything we need to accomplish this vision can be found within a healthy, cohesive community.

Personal Bio:

Logan was raised in Central Wisconsin and enlisted shortly after September 11th, 2001. Logan served 2002-2022 as both an Artilleryman and a Food Supply Specialist. During his time in the National Guard, he was deployed to Iraq twice, activated for the Operation Jumpstart Border Mission, Hurricane Irma recovery mission, the Seattle Protests, and a COVID relief mission. He firmly believes in helping all in need with compassion and an open mind. Even though he retired from the uniformed services over three years ago, he continues to serve the communities in his life. During his time in the ARNG, he earned an Associate's in Nutrition from Glendale Community College and a Bachelor's in Special and Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. After spending 10 years as a special education teacher, he started working with Growing Veterans in October of 2024. He is a proud father of his two-year-old son, Floyd, and a devoted husband to his wife, Nicole. His self-healing mission is to offer his best to his family day in and day out.