The article states:

Question

"Even as a little kid, it was my dream to farm," Hilbert told Farm Journal. "Everyone else had athletes…as their heroes, but [mine] were farmers." Hilbert was determined to own land one day. And he was willing to work hard to get it, even if it took him many years.

Why did the author include this passage?

to suggest that people should never admire athletes
to show readers that farming is best done by young people
to suggest that Hilbert was unwise to buy so much farmland
to show that Hilbert would never give up on his goal

Answer 1

The author included this passage to show that Hilbert would never give up on his goal.