Crystal Cox, Integrated Seed Growers, Perrydale, OR

The Pacific Seed Association (PSA) is pleased to welcome Crystal Cox, Sales & Procurement Manager at Integrated Seed Growers, LLC (ISG), to the PSA board! Crystal also serves as the Chair of the Field Seed Committee, a role that highlights her dedication to the seed industry and her active involvement in PSA initiatives.

Find out more about Crystal and her involvement with PSA by reading below.

Fun Facts

Q: Do you have any hobbies? I love just about anything outdoors except fishing or being cold. Hiking, being on the water, and ziplining are some of my favorites!

Q: Favorite place you’ve traveled to? So far the Dominican Republic – but I can’t wait to visit Europe.

Q: Where are you from? I was born in McMinnville OR – my children are 4th generation in the community. I graduated from Amity HS.

Q: Describe what a perfect day outside of work would look like for you? A day at the river or lake on our jet skis with my family or working in my yard and having a glass of pinot noir on the porch watching the sun go down– planting flowers and the smell of fresh cut grass are some of my favorite things.

Q: Best restaurant you’ve ever been to? The best restaurant I’ve been to is The LongHorn Steakhouse in Fort Collins Colorado, you can cut their ribeye with a fork and it melts in your mouth! Better than any steak I’ve had in Kansas City!

Q:What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?

My great aunt is Billie Burke – famously known as Glinda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz.

Professional Background

Q:How long have you worked at ISG, and what is your role? I will have been with ISG for 4 years this June. I am the Sales & Procurement Manager.

Q: What does ISG do? ISG is primarily a production company – placing turf, forage, cover crop and other seed acres in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Minnesota.

Q: What products or services does your company offer? ISG offers proprietary Tall Fescue and Perennial turf products as well as open market forage, turf and cover crop common varieties. 

Public Service & Industry Involvement

Q: How long has ISG been involved with PSA? 5 years

Q: How many PSA events have you attended? 3

Q: What have you enjoyed about them? I really enjoy the diverse selection of speakers. I like the interactive nature of our sessions and getting to hear other members share what they are working on or how they are navigating challenges or what successes they have experienced throughout the previous year.

Q: Favorite PSA convention location? I have really enjoyed all the locations thus far – I am not a golfer so each conference I have signed up for the off-site experience and each one has been a hit. Donna and the board have done a great job selecting activities that highlight those particular areas uniqueness. The Ariel Tram far exceeded my expectations and to my surprise was even more lovely in person. Each location had beautiful accommodations – if I had to pick a favorite, Palm Springs wins for having sunny and warm enough weather to be in the water! I cannot wait to visit Hawaii for the 100th Anniversary!

Agriculture & Career Insights

Q: What do you love most about the seed industry? There are many things that I have developed a fondness for in the industry – the innovation, the science, the competitiveness – but what I love most are the people I have met. Some have become friends; some have shared wisdom and some have been valuable lessons.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to enter agriculture? As someone who has only been in the industry a few years I would say it is never too late to start a new adventure or pursue a new passion. Ag is more diverse than I thought and has so many different career paths: marketing, agronomy, accounting, plant health, logistics, technology – the list goes on! There is truly something for everyone.

Q: What’s a quote you love about the seed industry? To plant a seed is to believe in tomorrow.

Q: What career advice do you live by? Who gave it to you? The best advice I live by in my personal and professional life is the Golden Rule “Treat others how you want to be treated” – Jesus. But truth be told this has helped me apply grace, accountability, discipline, and kindness to others but also myself!

Be yourself, everyone else is already taken!

Q: What do you/did you love the most about your job? I love the way my job pushes me to think outside of the box and seek creative and collaborative solutions.

Q: What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? The biggest career challenge I’m learning to master is the ability to not take other people’s opinions as facts.

We welcome Crystal Cox to the PSA board and look forward to her contributions in shaping the future of the seed industry.

Stay updated on PSA news and events by visiting our blog and exploring our committees to get involved!

Left: Crystal and her family

Right: Bottom left: Dave Johnson(field rep), Kevin Heinen(owner), Doug McKee(owner), Kelsey Stairs (production assistant), Ken Pietrok(field rep) & Jim Parson(field rep)