farm and land
DERLY TRANSITIO R O N: AN
assuring continuity
STORY BY AND PHOTOS BY NANCY L. SMITH | MANY FARM FAMILIES CAN BE PROUD OF A HERITAGE THAT STRETCHES BACK SEVERAL GENERATIONS—SOME EVEN ATTAIN THE COVETED CENTURY FARM DESIGNATION. BUT PAUL BOUNDS AND HIS SON, COARD, HAVE MOST OF THEM BEAT. PAUL’S ANCESTOR, JOHN BOUNDS, ARRIVED IN THE PRINCESS ANNE, MARYLAND AREA IN 1658.
Although Paul and Coard’s farm in Berlin, Maryland is not on land that John trod more than two hundred and fifty years ago, their Maryland legacy is strong. “I’m the twelfth generation of continuous Bounds on the shore,” says Paul. “Coard is the thirteenth and he has three sons, so that’s 14 generations.” “My grandfather was born in 1892 and he farmed, and his father farmed. My father was born in 1919 and he and his brother, who was born in 1932 or 1934, had Bounds Brothers farm operation and took over their father’s operation. “Bounds Brothers was probably started in the late 50s,” Paul explains, noting that he is still farming some of the land his grandfather purchased around 1918.
’S NOWHERE HERE
“When my father turned 70 in 1989, my brother-in-law, Chris Mason, and I started Newark Grain,” adds Paul. The corn and soybean operation now farms extensive owned and leased acreage in Worcester County. At first, it did not appear that Coard would be joining his father and uncle in farming. Paul recalls, “Coard didn’t really show that much interest when he was growing up. I was just too busy working the last 20 or 25 years to think about how it would pan out.” Coard received a degree in civil engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He says, “I got my surveying license and started a surveying business.” But in 2011, an orderly transition of
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farm ownership began. Coard, his father and his uncle Chris signed an agreement by which he would be an employee of Newark Grain for two years and then begin to buy the company. Business owners, including farmers, often are resistant to transitioning management and leadership to the next generation. “I think [refusal to cede control] is a big mistake,” says Paul. “If you’re going to do the work, I feel like you have to be in charge, too.” “It’s only a problem if the next generation makes mistakes,” responds Coard. But his father does not want to deny him the opportunity for his own learning experiences. “I feel like Coard isn’t going to make any more mistakes than I would if I would be making the decisions,” he says.
I would rather be
the other side of ag
PAUL AND NANCY BOUNDS ARE PLEASED THAT SON COARD IS TAKING OVER NEWARK GRAIN IN AN ORDERLY TRANSITION. COARD, HIS WIFE JILL, AND THEIR THREE SONS ARE THE FUTURE OF A MARYLAND TRADITION THAT EXTENDS BACK MORE THAN 250 YEARS. COARD IS NOW HALF OWNER OF THE OPERATION AND IS STILL FARMING SOME OF THE LAND OWNED BY HIS ANCESTORS. HE IS EXPANDING THE OPERATION WITH THE RECENT PURCHASE OF ANOTHER FARM.
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| VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 4 | mafc.com
