From Pigskins to Beefmasters
Cobi Hamilton’s farm in Nash, Texas, is like driving up on a tiny slice of East Texas heaven. Observing the beauty of the wildflowers and the magnificence of the cattle is a mesmerizing experience. It is easy to see why, in a busy and complicated world, this is Hamilton’s oasis. Many had a different path in mind for the young athlete, but after a lifetime of devoting his focus to playing football at Texas High School, the University of Arkansas, and the NFL (first drafted to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013), Hamilton’s enthusiasm for cattle never waned; he could not resist returning home to his roots in 2018. “Some kids’ ultimate dream is to play in the NFL, and all they care about is football, football, football,” he said. “Everybody wants me to be a football player, but this (cattle) is my passion. I’ve been doing this since I was a little kid. I could have continued playing football, but I was ready for my life to start.”
Hamilton spends most days traveling to cattle sales throughout East Texas and Southern Arkansas to acquire new herds to be sold as replacement cattle. Upon their arrival at the farm, the cows are sorted and grouped to his liking and eventually transported to their new homes. “I’ve always been around cattle sales, so I didn’t just jump into it,” reflected Hamilton. Even amid the intense rigor of the NFL, he was making cattle sales from afar. A self-proclaimed Daddy’s boy, Hamilton, was around his father’s Beefmaster cattle business from an early age, and by ten years old, he was tying up calves in the same barn where his business is located today. “I am easily stereotyped,” he said, “because I’m dark-skinned and have long hair. When I walk into a sale barn, the other buyers think, ‘Who is this guy?’” However, it doesn’t take long for Hamilton to establish himself. The way he carries himself and his obvious expertise of the industry demands respect. “They want to ask questions and know more about me. They want to know where my farm is and how I got into the cattle business.”
Tenacity runs deep into Hamilton’s family tree. Raised with seven siblings in Foreman, Arkansas, Gene Hamilton, Cobi’s father, was the lone cowboy in a family full of educators and politicians. “My aunts and uncles each had the resilience and a backbone to want better for themselves,” Hamilton said. His mother, Deborah Hamilton, was among the first African-American women to play sports at the University of Arkansas. His sister, Kayla Hamilton, is a renowned dancer and choreographer in New York City. Resilience has been passed down as a legacy of determination to future generations of the Hamilton family.
Hamilton has a thirst for learning and does not take his tenure in the cow business for granted. He believes there is always a question to be asked and a new strategy to employ, to do what is best for his business. “Anything that is not growing is dead,” Hamilton quoted. He often leans on his mentors in the cattle business for guidance. In elementary school, Hamilton’s mom dropped him at the sale barn on Friday nights, and he would beg her not to pick him up until the last man left. Anthony Martin, his mentor in the back of the sale barn, always kept an eye on him. “Anthony cared for me as a kid and ensured I didn’t get hurt or put in a bad spot.” Roger McDaniel of Valiant, Oklahoma, is another mentor Hamilton still looks to for guidance in the business. “He taught me when to sell cattle and when to hold on to them,” Hamilton reflected. “I have learned different techniques for doctoring cattle, and he encourages me to experiment to see what works best for my cattle. He is someone I will feel proud and privileged to know for the rest of my life.” One of the most important business philosophies he adopted from both men is, “The world is smaller if we all work together. Ultimately, we will all make more money because it always comes back around.”
Texarkana is a hub for buying and selling cows in the surrounding states. Most of Hamilton’s business is accomplished online, and while many get sucked down the social media rabbit hole, he is online simply to sell cows. His only criteria for being accepted as his Facebook friend—you must own a cow! “My goal is to get more established, so wherever I go, I can sell cows,” Hamilton said. He hopes to grow his business to an echelon where people come to him no matter where he is located. He works hard to meet the needs of his customers and serve them in a way that is convenient for them and beneficial to his business.
Along with a couple of farms in Texarkana, Hamilton owns the land behind his grandmother’s house where his dad’s Beefmaster business started. Named for his grandfather, Oscar Hamilton, Circle O Farms holds a special place in the family. Hamilton mainly buys and sells Brahman cattle. The Brahman nature is to stay close together and never stray far from their group. “They are sturdy cows that can withstand the Texas heat and know how to survive.” This breed appeals to Hamilton as hard work, a fortified legacy, and the cattle business have been tightly woven into the tapestry of his heritage.
To some people, especially his ten-year-old son, Riley, Hamilton will always be the NFL star from Nash, Texas. But Hamilton’s view of himself is quite different. “This is my happy place, out here in the mud. I come here every morning before heading out to cattle sales to get peace of mind and ensure everything is how it should be. Who wouldn’t like this? The birds singing. Pretty cows. Life is short. Who cares what people make you out to be?”
