Name:
Christy Couch Lee

Home State:
Wellington, IL

Your Job Title and Employer:
Director of Communications, National Swine Registry
West Lafayette, IN

What do you do on a typical day at work?
It varies, depending on the day. My main responsibility is overseeing the production of the NSR’s magazine, Seedstock EDGE. I edit show reports, and editorial and advertising content. We also produce two quarterly newsletters, “The Pinnacle” and “For the Record,” as well as many breeder and boar stud catalogs and flyers and NSR promotional materials.

What is your favorite thing about your job?
Being able to tell the stories of our breeders through feature stories, and assisting our breeders with marketing their hogs through advertising in our magazine.

Do you get to travel a lot, or mostly spend time in an office? Which do you prefer?
I travel to about five NSR and NJSA events each year, as well as traveling sometimes to gather feature stories for the magazine. Therefore, I get to travel some, but I’m in the office the majority of the time. I believe it works out well, and it is a necessity, as magazine production requires a great deal of office time. 

How did you get interested in this career?
I grew up showing cattle, and I’ve always loved attending livestock shows and getting to know the people in the livestock industry. So, being able to tell their stories was extremely exciting to me. 

What was your college major, and do you think that degree was crucial in helping you get to the career you are at right now?
I graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1999 with a degree in agricultural communications. I believe it was extremely crucial to my success in my current career, as I gained the basic skills and networking I needed to get my start in the industry.

What advice would you have for someone who is searching for a college and trying to choose a degree?
My best advice would be to do your research and ask questions. Visit with professionals in the career you’re considering, and don’t be afraid to ask about job shadowing for a day. Chances are, they’d be glad to share their time and knowledge with you.

If you were hiring an employee, what are the top three skills you look for and why?
I look for someone who has experience in writing and design, as these skills are critical in agricultural communications. Work ethic is also extremely important, as we put in long hours during some deadlines. And, we must have someone who is a team player and is easy to get along with, as we spend a lot of time together as we produce each issue of the magazine. We have to help each other, and be happy to do it.

Does someone’s college GPA have a big factor in whether you would hire them?
It does show me someone’s work ethic, to an extent, as someone with a high GPA and many activities has found a way to balance their priorities and be successful. However, the most important thing to me is experience.

Who is someone you admire professionally and why?
Darrell Anderson, the NSR CEO. Darrell has built a name for himself in the livestock industry, and is sought after for advice for many leaders of all industries. He is the epitome of servant leadership, and truly puts the needs of his employees and the members of the NSR first.

Have you had any mentors who have helped you in your career? If so, who? Do you think mentors are important?
I have had numerous mentors in the industry, and I believe their value, both personally and professionally, is beyond words. Some of these mentors are Diane Johnson, the Livestock Publications Council executive director; Angie Stump Denton, the editor of Hereford World; Jim Bret Campbell, the senior director of marketing and publications for The American Quarter Horse Association; and Shelly Sitton, my OSU agricultural communications advisor.

Who’s the person you go to “bounce ideas around with”?
It depends on the topic, but everyone listed in my mentor list, my boss, Darrell Anderson, and my co-worker, Jennifer Shike, the NSR director of junior activities, are typically the first I turn to.

Is your job directly involved in agriculture? If not, how do you still get your “fix” of still being involved in the agriculture industry?
Yes, I’m directly involved in agriculture, and I love it. Plus, I still get my “cattle fix” with the small herd of Angus cattle that my husband, Craig, and our boys, Waylon and Nolan, have.

What are your thoughts about young people’s profiles and photos being on facebook/myspace while trying to find a job?
I believe both can be wonderful networking tools! And, I must admit, I use Facebook frequently. I also believe if you have a page on any site, you should only post photos and information that you would be fine with anyone seeing – including a potential employer, or even your grandmother.