From childhood memories on a Florida cattle ranch to helping lead her family’s multigenerational farm operation today, Christy Pound’s roots in ag continue to shape her purpose. Today, Christy serves as a trustee at Grigsby Farms in Springfield, Illinois.
She was nominated by Farm Credit Illinois for the 2026 Farm Credit AWARD Program, a leadership initiative created in celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Learn more about Christy’s journey in agriculture below!
Question: What was your first memory of agriculture – planting, raising livestock or a memory from a rural community?
Answer: My earliest agricultural memory comes from growing up on a cattle ranch in central Florida, living just across the yard from my grandparents. My grandfather, dad, uncles, great-uncles, and second cousins were all involved in the operation in one way or another. Every day, my family gathered for lunch prepared by my grandmother. Watching the people closest to me work side by side and then come together around a shared meal shaped my understanding of agriculture. It connected the work we did with family, purpose, and the belief that we accomplish more together than we ever could alone.
Question: What is your role in agriculture today?
Answer: For the past 14 years, I’ve served as a leader within both my extended family and our family’s row crop operation in Illinois. My roles include trustee of the family trusts that own our land, board member and secretary of our board of managers, and consultant to the business. I wear many hats across both the family ownership side and the operational side, working to bridge the gap between a multigenerational family and the long-term growth and continuity of a family business.
Question: What motivates you to keep going despite setbacks?
Answer: I’m motivated by the legacy my grandparents built, the lessons my parents taught me, and the responsibility I feel to ensure that what they started continues for future generations. Their example instilled in me a deep respect for entrepreneurship in agriculture, teamwork, and sacrifice. The love I grew up with—and the faith my family helped nurture—has grounded me through tragic events, difficult generational transitions, and uncertain times. Those challenges have only strengthened my resolve to work harder to keep our family farm united and moving forward.
Question: What impact or legacy do you aim to leave?
Answer: I hope my legacy shows that a woman in a traditionally male dominated culture can have a meaningful and stabilizing impact. I want to be remembered for helping guide our family and business through times of upheaval, contributing to significant growth, and helping establish a thoughtful transition plan for the next generation.
