At Lasseter Tractor Company, our favorite thing about what we do is the relationships we build along the way. Recently, we had the privilege of spending time with one of our awesome customers, Samuel (Sam) Baker of Baker Farms in Montgomery County, GA.
Sam and his brothers are third-generation farmers. Sam’s grandfather was a Georgia sharecropper in the 1930s. After overhearing about some land up for sale, he purchased what is now Baker Farms in 1940, dissolving that sharecropping relationship. This was a move that would impact the Baker family for generations to come. More than 80 years later, the Baker brothers grow cotton, corn and peanuts as well as tend cattle on this farm.
Sam’s career in agriculture is a varied one. He graduated from Fort Valley State University in 1979 with his degree in agricultural education. From there, Sam worked for the USDA with Farmers Home Administration for 32 years. He retired from this position in 2012 and has been farming full-time ever since. During our time together, Sam spoke highly of his parents. Out of 9 children, 7 of them went to college as first-generation college students. Sam credits his parents’ love and support for pushing him and all of his siblings to succeed.
“My whole life has been totally centered around agriculture and farming,” said Sam. “I love what I do. People ask me, ‘Why do you work all the time?’ and I’ll say, ‘Well, I haven’t gone to work yet!’ because I enjoy what I do. It does have its challenges, but I still love it.”
Lasseter Tractor Company is proud to provide Sam with the quality John Deere products he needs to reach his goals.
“It’s been a great relationship we have with Lasseter,” said Sam. “We’ve always had John Deere equipment. In 1952, the first tractor my dad bought was a John Deere. I wouldn’t want any other kind for two reasons: the dependability and the resale value.”
From tractors to cotton equipment and everything in between, our team has Sam covered with John Deere products, plus any parts or service needs along the way. Sam and his brothers also make excellent use of John Deere’s Precision Ag Technology offerings through Lasseter to improve the efficiency of their operation.
“I never dreamed that we’d be doing what we’re doing in the manner that we’re doing it,” Sam remarked. “Being able to grow the operation…just, wow. The first year I started, we had 170 acres. Today, we farm roughly 2,700-2,800 acres. There aren’t many Black farmers. I’m thankful. I’ve been blessed by God that I am and that we are able to farm in the manner that we are.”
When asked what he’s most proud of, Sam expressed that he treasures the fact that his family has worked hard from generation to generation, and they’ve been blessed by the relationships that have resulted from that. In fact, upon Sam’s mother’s passing in 2023, Montgomery County saw fit to name the road on which her home resided “Baker Road” after the Baker family and in her memory.
“That means everything to me as a farmer,” said Sam. “I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been blessed to live a good life and to be able to accomplish the things that we have.”
Hear directly from Sam himself in the short video below.
It’s our pleasure to partner with hardworking people like Sam Baker. Who knows, depending on what future generations of Bakers decide to do with their lives and careers, we may get to assist children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews of Baker Farms for years to come. It would certainly be our honor to do so.
We’d be honored to help your operation grow as well! Find your local Lasseter Tractor Company John Deere dealership location here.