Honoring Veterans: A Conversation with Farmer and Navy Veteran Chris Gould

This Veterans Day, IL Corn had the privilege of catching up with Illinois farmer and Navy veteran Chris Gould. After a few questions and some great conversation, we got a glimpse into his remarkable story. His story reflects both service to our country and dedication to the land.

From Farm Fields to Flight Deck

Raised on a family-owned farm, Chris learned early what hard work and responsibility looked like. Lessons from the farm served him well during his military career. He served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years (1991–2001) before returning home to continue his family’s farming legacy. With a degree from the University of Illinois, Chris has now been an owner-operator for 30 years.

A Few Unforgettable Moments

“It’s hard to narrow it down to just a few,” Chris admits, “but here are a couple that stand out.”

1996 – Flying Over Iraq
“In 1996, we were between two Gulf Wars, so at the time there wasn’t active shooting. Our battle group helped enforce a no-fly zone to keep Saddam Hussein from flying over his country. While monitoring, we practiced bombing missions to prepare for potential live strikes. Occasionally we’d be ‘lit up’ by Iraqi SAM radars which we could jam or destroy but it was still stressful, to say the least.”

2001 – The Day Everything Changed
“My service ended just three weeks after the September 11 attacks. On that day, I was flying onto a carrier off the Virginia coast. We were immediately loaded with live missiles and placed on high alert for the next three days. Jets were ready on catapults, and we were in full gear prepared to launch within 15 minutes to intercept anything headed toward the East Coast. It was a surreal time filled with uncertainty.”

Bringing Navy Lessons Back to the Farm

“They both influenced each other,” Chris explains. “After flight school, I was assigned to fly F/A-18s with VFA-81 Sunliners. My call sign was ‘Farmer’ and yes, I was the butt of many pig jokes,” he laughs. “Growing up on the farm built my work ethic, which helped me succeed in the Navy.”

When he transitioned back to farming in 2005, those leadership skills carried over. “While not airborne, one of my collateral duties was leading as many as 70 maintenance personnel. Today I manage several employees on my farm, and that leadership experience made the transition to running a small business much easier.”

Chris still keeps one foot in the skies as he continues to fly today as a FedEx pilot, more than 30 years after earning his wings.

Shared Values: Service and Stewardship

It’s easy to see the parallels between farming and military service: honor, sacrifice, leadership, loyalty, and freedom. Both require long hours, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose.

And Chris is far from alone —nearly 9% of U.S. farmers are serving or have served in the military. These veteran farmers continue to demonstrate the same dedication to feeding and fueling our nation as they once did in defending it.

From all of us at IL Corn, we extend our gratitude to Chris Gould and to all who have served.

Thank you for your service and for continuing to serve through agriculture