Jan Cubbage
Term Expires: November 2024
Jan Cubbage grew up in rural Hunterdon County, New Jersey as a free range farm child with five siblings whose parents nurtured their children's character through year-round farm work producing corn, hay, Hereford cattle and vegetables and fruit to market on the farm for substantial income. Outdoor adventures, family barbecues, horses and ponies to ride and family excursions to New York City were the just rewards of child farm labor. Jan's father was a successful farmer as well as a federal employee who worked as a major purchasing agent for NE USA Veteran's hospitals.
At Hunterdon Central High School, Flemington, New Jersey, Jan was a member of National Honor Society and International Honor Society of High School Journalists. Jan attended Hofstra University on an athletic/academic scholarship for two years. In June 1995, Jan completed her degree at University of Florida, majoring in American History and Anthropology, earning "highest honors" notation on her BA diploma.
Jan began riding and training horses for show horse and racehorse farms at the age of 16. One job led to another and then to the major racetracks of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Jan rode her first thoroughbred race in March of 1974 and from there went on to win races as a jockey in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. In 1978, Jan obtained her first of many state trainer's licenses. Jan held assistant positions with two leading national ranked stables, Adena Springs and Sam-Son Racing Stables during the 1990s. Both racing stables were #1 national rank/money/won, with racehorse training centers based in Marion County.
After the death of her first husband in 1998, Jan changed careers and took on her first year of teaching at Dunnellon High School. While at DHS, Jan taught US History classes, US Government, Economics and Earth Science. Jan also headed the Exceptional Student Education Department for several years as well as the Community Based Vocational Training (CBVT) Program. By obtaining four SWFWMD Grants (SPLASH GRANTS), Jan guided her science students on many nature based field trips and other environmental learning experiences.
Jan Cubbage has been a professional freelance writer for magazines and journals for over twenty years. Jan and her husband Bob Cubbage, reside at Cubbage Patch Farm with their many dogs, ponies, horses, chickens, ducks and one cat.