Christi Nickey
Farm Manager
Email: cnickey@goshen.edu
Phone: 2607995869
Office: Rieth Village & Learning Center at Merry Lea
M.S.C. Regenerative Organic Agriculture, Maharishi International University, 2024
B.A. Regenerative Organic Agriculture, Maharishi International University, 2022
B.A. Animal Science, Clemson University, 2013
A.A.S, Culinary Arts, Florida Culinary Institute, 2001
Christi joined the Merry Lea team in March 2025 as our Farm Manager, where she will be overseeing the day-to-day operation and function of the Merry Lea Teaching Farm. Though originally from the Muncie area, she has spent much of her life living in Florida, South Carolina, Colorado and Iowa. As long-time professional chef and restauranteur, Christi has been deeply involved in food systems work for many years before pivoting into farming full-time.
She recently completed her Masters degree in Regenerative Organic Agriculture while working at Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. Christi has a deep love of nature and is passionate about seed sovereignty, local food webs, social justice and education.
She is excited to lead the teaching farm and engage deeply with the environmental stewardship and regenerative capacity of Merry Lea as a whole. In her free time, she enjoys camping, cycling, reading, cooking, growing native plants, birding, and spending time with her three children.