Sam Cobb featured on California Farm Bureau's
CA Bountiful TV
A Short Documentary on Sam Cobb
Sam Cobb featured on PBS: America's Heartland
KESQ News
Local date farmer hopes to help usher in the next generation of Black farmers
About Sam Cobb
An American Success Story
Samuel D. Cobb
AKA, "The Real Sam Cobb"
California Date Grower
I always wanted to be a farmer. Yes, always!
From the time that I was a child growing up in rural Fresno County, California... and on into adulthood. The dream never left me.
Growing up, farming was always a soft and pleasant recurring dream in my life. The dream would sweep me away and into dreamland whenever I would stop to think about it. It all seemed so real to me. I was in my happy place. I was a farmer. Tilling the soil, planting seeds, irrigating, harvesting and marketing. (Yes marketing. Hey, you have to sell what you grow, right?) In fact, I still dream those dreams quite regularly. Every farmer does.
I just knew that someday, I would be a farmer. There was no holding me back. I would do whatever it took to succeed. I was willing to pay the price.
The price required that I learn and become educated in agriculture. Learn its ways, learn its language, learn its various industries, learn its history and learn its science.
So, upon my arrival at high school in the fall of 1976, I enrolled in my first agriculture classes at Washington Union High School and joined the Easton Fresno Chapter of the Future Farmers of America; FFA. An organization that I hold in high esteem to this very day!
From the time that I was a child growing up in rural Fresno County, California... and on into adulthood. The dream never left me.
Growing up, farming was always a soft and pleasant recurring dream in my life. The dream would sweep me away and into dreamland whenever I would stop to think about it. It all seemed so real to me. I was in my happy place. I was a farmer. Tilling the soil, planting seeds, irrigating, harvesting and marketing. (Yes marketing. Hey, you have to sell what you grow, right?) In fact, I still dream those dreams quite regularly. Every farmer does.
I just knew that someday, I would be a farmer. There was no holding me back. I would do whatever it took to succeed. I was willing to pay the price.
The price required that I learn and become educated in agriculture. Learn its ways, learn its language, learn its various industries, learn its history and learn its science.
So, upon my arrival at high school in the fall of 1976, I enrolled in my first agriculture classes at Washington Union High School and joined the Easton Fresno Chapter of the Future Farmers of America; FFA. An organization that I hold in high esteem to this very day!
1980 West Fresno-Madera Section
Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Public Speaking Champion, Sam Cobb with Pat Anastasio, Easton-Fresno FFA
During high school I excelled in my Agriculture classes; distinguishing myself as a champion award winning Public Speaker, a member of the Parliamentary Procedure and Debate team, and becoming recognized as an outstanding Welder and Agricultural Mechanic.
In 1980, I applied for and received a Bank of America Achievement Award, in the field of Agriculture: "for Distinguished Performance, the Promise of Future Success and Service to Society". This financial award paid my way through college, covering all tuitions and books.
I went on and obtained an Associates of Science degree in Agronomy from Reedley College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from Fresno State University.
I was a determined and focused student; approaching every agriculture class with purpose and determination. I always wanted to know: 'how will this class help me as I work to become a farmer'?
Now, after many false starts and a 30 year detour-career working for the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, (USDA-NRCS), I am finally living my dream! Living and leaving my mark on agriculture.
I am an American Farmer. An American Date Farmer. An African American Date Farmer. There are not many date farmers in the United States. And there are even less of them that are Black? At present, I believe I am the only Black Date Farmer in the whole USA: if you know of another or others, I would love to meet them.
From the age of about 3 or 4, I was drawn to whats commonly known as, "the dirt". I would later learn to use its scientific name...soil, as I continued to learn and grow.
Now, I have learned to love and appreciate the soil and the life sustaining plants that grow therein. Yes. In a way that gardeners, farmers, and ranchers truly learn to understand and feel.
I love talking to people about gardening and farming of any kind and farm life in general. For me, farming is farming... and I love farming! I love farming for what it is...a great way of life! And when you love what you do, it shows!
My Professional Title:I am an Agronomist!
Few people have earned a degree in Agronomy. Probably because few people enjoy soil and plant science and farming in general, as much as I do.
It's always nice to meet a fellow agronomist.
My educational background is: Agricultural EducationPlant Science,Agronomy Ag Mechanics Ag Engineering Ag Economics.
Sincerely,
Sam Cobb,Agronomist andExpert Date Grower/Farmer 🙂
In 1980, I applied for and received a Bank of America Achievement Award, in the field of Agriculture: "for Distinguished Performance, the Promise of Future Success and Service to Society". This financial award paid my way through college, covering all tuitions and books.
I went on and obtained an Associates of Science degree in Agronomy from Reedley College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from Fresno State University.
I was a determined and focused student; approaching every agriculture class with purpose and determination. I always wanted to know: 'how will this class help me as I work to become a farmer'?
Now, after many false starts and a 30 year detour-career working for the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, (USDA-NRCS), I am finally living my dream! Living and leaving my mark on agriculture.
I am an American Farmer. An American Date Farmer. An African American Date Farmer. There are not many date farmers in the United States. And there are even less of them that are Black? At present, I believe I am the only Black Date Farmer in the whole USA: if you know of another or others, I would love to meet them.
From the age of about 3 or 4, I was drawn to whats commonly known as, "the dirt". I would later learn to use its scientific name...soil, as I continued to learn and grow.
Now, I have learned to love and appreciate the soil and the life sustaining plants that grow therein. Yes. In a way that gardeners, farmers, and ranchers truly learn to understand and feel.
I love talking to people about gardening and farming of any kind and farm life in general. For me, farming is farming... and I love farming! I love farming for what it is...a great way of life! And when you love what you do, it shows!
My Professional Title:I am an Agronomist!
Few people have earned a degree in Agronomy. Probably because few people enjoy soil and plant science and farming in general, as much as I do.
It's always nice to meet a fellow agronomist.
My educational background is: Agricultural EducationPlant Science,Agronomy Ag Mechanics Ag Engineering Ag Economics.
Sincerely,
Sam Cobb,Agronomist andExpert Date Grower/Farmer 🙂
Sam Cobb
Photo by: Sanetra Logno