Robert Hilliker divides his time between Houston and Brenham, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Maria, and their five daughters. A lifelong waterfowl and upland bird hunter, Robert brings decades of passion and experience to this venture, blending his love for hunting with a strong commitment to conservation and land stewardship.

Over the past 20 years, Robert has successfully started, scaled, and operated multiple companies, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to building meaningful relationships.

With a BS in Psychology and History, a Master’s in Social Work, and a Doctorate in Clinical Social Work, Robert’s expertise spans behavioral healthcare and beyond. His business ventures highlight his ability to create impactful connections across industries. This latest endeavor unites his deep appreciation for waterfowl and upland bird hunting with his entrepreneurial drive, emphasizing responsible land use and long-term conservation.

Sam is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for fly fishing and waterfowl hunting in Texas. He and his wife, Carolynn, have two children, Ellie and Django, and live on their farm in Brenham. Together, they run a direct-to-consumer regenerative farming operation, producing grass-finished beef and pasture-raised chicken, pork, and eggs. These products are sold through their e-commerce business as well as their own grocery stores in Austin, TX.

They manage a flock of 7,000 laying hens and raise 250 calves, 50 pigs, and about 5,000 meat chickens each year. Sam’s unique experience in multi-species holistic land management aligns with the Farris mission to be a leader in habitat conservation and restoration, while also being a supportive friend to the local farming community.

Before founding Shirttail Creek Farm in 2017, Sam ran a successful digital advertising business with offices in Austin, New York, and Romania. He holds a BA in Mathematics from UT Austin, Class of 2003.

Chris Daughtry is a native Houstonian and currently resides in Sealy, Texas, with his wife, Jodie. His lifelong interest in the outdoors eventually developed into a deep passion for waterfowl hunting. As an avid hunter, Chris spends many mornings on the prairies of Colorado, Wharton, and Austin counties.

Chris is a strong advocate for a collective approach to conservation. He believes that hunters, landowners, and conservation groups must unite to preserve and restore critical waterfowl habitat along the Texas coastal prairies.

With over a decade of experience running high-performing, member-based businesses, Chris was named Director of the Year in 2014 and again in 2023 within an international franchise network.

Chris holds a BS in Exercise Physiology and Business Management from Texas State University.

R.K. Sawyer has been a waterfowl hunter since 1964, with the seeds of his lifelong passion sown on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. He currently resides in Sugar Land, Texas, with his wife, Wendy, and Matagorda Mattie, a black Labrador Retriever.

Since retiring from the oil and gas industry, Rob has dedicated his time to managing habitat for several waterfowl clubs and has authored four historical waterfowling books. His books are available at www.robertksawyer.com.