Juan Arambula's story is not unlike that of thousands of other farm workers, following the crops from one community to the next, whether it was cotton in Bakersfield or grapes in Fresno, the work was long and laborious. It didn't leave much time for a solid education, but Arambula persevered, thanks to the inspiration of legendary labor leader Cesar Chavez. "His example encouraged me to further my education and to make sure that I remembered and that I came back and try to help people that aren't fortunate," Arambula said.

He's always put education first. Early on he saw it as his ticket out of the fields. But getting that diploma is not an easy thing for most farm workers to achieve. But Arambula proved he had the stuff to overcome the overwhelming odds. An unintentional push from a high school guidance counselor didn't hurt either. "I recall that my counselor, even though I had already been accepted to Harvard made somewhat of a disparaging comment. That she expected me to be back picking grapes in a couple of weeks," said Arambula.

He took that as a challenge he was going to meet, earning degrees from Harvard, Stanford and UC Berkeley. He's come a long way from the little boy who had to interrupt his school year to follow the harvest. After getting a law degree, he worked as an attorney, representing farm workers. Later, his love for education earned him a seat on the Fresno Unified School District Board. And since 1997 he's served on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors where he's earned the respect of colleagues like Bob Waterston, for his intelligent and thoughtful leadership. "He waits until you're through talking and then he's digested everything he's heard, and then he comes up with the right answer and that's how we go," Waterston said.

As a County Supervisor he's been the voice of "the little guy" including a group of migrant workers who desperately needed better housing. He helped relocate a group of farm workers who were living in a dilapidated trailer park. Arambula is also doing his part to help kids from farm worker families get that precious college degree so they can break the cycle of poverty. Several years ago he established a scholarship fund for Fresno State University's Migrant Services Program.

Arambula definitely remembers where he's been, but where is this inspirational man going? With the help of his wife, Amy and his four college-age children he hopes to go to the State Assembly. There, he wants to continue his quiet, thoughtful brand of activism.

A special thank you goes to the Fresno Ramada Inn for accommodating the Heartland crew during our stay in Fresno. Please visit their Web site at www.framada.com