kˈɑːkɹən wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn sˈæskɐtʃˌuːən, kˈænədə, ænd ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn fˈɛɹfiːld, ˈaɪəwə, wˌɛɹ hiː ɹᵻsˈiːvd hɪz ˌɛlɪmˈɛntɚɹi ænd sˈɛkəndɚɹi ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən.
Cochran was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in Fairfield, Iowa, where he received his elementary and secondary education.