Baxter Black

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Baxter F. Black

DVM
Baxter Black at the National Western Stock Show - January 21, 2012
Baxter Black at National Western Stock Show (Denver, Colorado) - January 21, 2012
Born (1945-01-10) January 10, 1945 (age 76)
Brooklyn Naval Hospital
Brooklyn, New York
Occupation
NationalityAmerican
EducationDoctor of Veterinary Medicine
Alma materColorado State University
GenreCowboy Poetry
SubjectCowboy and ranch life
Notable works
  • On the Edge of Commonsense
  • Coyote Cowboy Poetry
  • Croutons on a Cowpie
Years active1970's-present
SpouseCindy Lou
ChildrenJennifer and Guy
RelativesParents: Robert and Theodora Black
Website
baxterblack.com

Baxter Black (born January 10, 1945, Brooklyn Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York) is an American cowboy poet and former large animal veterinarian.

Black grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he would attend New Mexico State University. He completed veterinary school at Colorado State University, graduating in 1969. His writing and speaking work began in the early 1980s. Since leaving his veterinary career, he has published nearly three dozen books of poetry, fiction--both novels and children's literature--and commentary, selling over 2 million books, CDs, and DVDs.

During 2002-2009, he was a regular commentator for National Public Radio's Morning Edition.[1] Baxter Black on Monday, the weekly syndicated radio program, has been on the air since 1989 and his weekly syndicated column, On the Edge of Common Sense, is carried by more than 150 publications.[2]

He currently resides in Benson, Arizona, where he owns Coyote Cowboy Company, the publishing company which releases his works.

Biography[]

Black was born at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital in Brooklyn New York in January 1945. In high school, he became the Future Farmers of America (FFA) president, the senior class president, and lettered in wrestling one year. Beginning in high school, he began riding bulls in rodeos and continued riding throughout college. Black attended college at New Mexico State University and Colorado State University, and graduated in 1969. Before becoming a poet, he practiced medicine as a veterinarian. This career lasted from 1969 to 1982, He specialized in large animals, such as cows and horses. Baxter worked for three different large companies, and two of the three changed ownership. During his last veterinarian job, Black gained popularity through public speaking. He continued his job as a veterinarian for two years, and during that time he spoke at over 250 programs. After this, his career as a poet was beginning. Black also hosted the public television series Baxter Black and Friends.[3]

He continues to write a column, speak on the radio, and has a short segment on RFD-TV as well as The Cowboy Channel. He resides in Benson, Arizona, with his wife, Cindy Lou, and has no cell phone, television, or fax machine. One of his philosophies of life claims: "In spite of all the computerized, digitalized, high-tech innovations of today, there will always be a need for a cowboy." When asked what made him decide to become a cowboy, he says, "Ya either are one, or ya aren't!"."[4]

Radio[]

Black's radio career began as a chance occurrence. During a news-worthy local event, he submitted some of his work to a radio station. Black specified in an interview, "It was the year Yellowstone caught on fire, 1988. We were listening and they didn't have any coverage to speak of, and it was a huge deal in our life. It was a huge deal in Colorado (where I lived) and the sky smelled like smoke and I had this big tumultuous poem about range fire... So I sent them this. I just sent it to "Public Radio" in Washington D.C. And two or three days later I get a call back."[5]

Bibliography[]

Books
Title Genre Publisher Year
The Cowboy and His Dog : or, "Go, Git in the Pickup!" Poetry Record Stockman Press 1980
A Rider, a Roper and a Heck'uva Windmill Man Poetry Record Stockman Press 1982
On the Edge of Common Sense : the Best So Far Poetry Record Stockman Press 1983
Doc, While Yer Here Poetry Record Stockman Press 1984
Cowboy and Sourdough Buckaroo History Poetry Record Stockman Press 1985
Coyote Cowboy Poetry Poetry Record Stockman Press 1986
Croutons on a Cow-Pie Poetry Record Stockman Press 1988
The Buckskin Mare Poetry Record Stockman Press 1989
There's Mountain Time, There's Daylight
Savings Time, and Cowboy Standard Time		 Poetry Record Stockman Press 1990
Hey, Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky? Fiction Record Stockman Press 1990
Croutons on a Cow-Pie II Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1992
Dunny and the Duck Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1994
Cow Attack’ Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1996
Cactus Tracks & Cowboy Philosophy Literary Collection Penguin Books 1997
Loose Cow Party Poetry & Anecdotes Coyote Cowboy Co. 1998
A Cowful of Cowboy Poetry Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2000
Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle Livestock
Forward only		 Storey Books 2000
Cowboy Mentality: And the Big One That Got Away Blues Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2001
Horseshoes, Cowsocks, and Duckfeet: More Commentary
by NPR's Cowboy Poet & Former Large Animal Veterinarian		 Commentary Crown Publishers 2002
Baxter Black's Ag Man : the Comic Book Graphic Novel Coyote Cowboy Co. 2003
Hey, Cowgirl, Need a Ride? Fiction Crown Publishers 2005
The West
Limited Edition of 50		 Poetry Poetry Center of Chicago 2005
Blazin' Bloats and Cows on FIRE! or, It's Hard to Blow Out a Holstein Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2006
The World According to Baxter Black: Quips, Quirks and Quotes Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2008
The Back Page: the Best of Baxter Black From Western Horseman Literary Collection Coyote Cowboy Co. 2009
Rudolph's Night Off Children’s Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2011
Lessons From a Desperado Poet
with Wilford Brimley		 Literary Collection TwoDot 2012
Ride, Cowboy, Ride! 8 Seconds Ain't That Long Fiction TwoDot 2012
Reindeer Flu Poetry Children’s Fiction 2013
Poems Worth Saving Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2013
Cave Wall Graffiti from a Neanderthal Cowboy Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2014
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering: An Anthology Poetry Lyons Press 2014
Tinsel, Mistletoe and Reindeer Bait Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2016
Scrambled Wisdom Poetry & Anecdotes Coyote Cowboy Co. 2017
A Commotion in Rhyme Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2018

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ NPR. "Stories By Baxter Black". NPR. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Bunch, Joey. "Former vet found humor his calling". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Writer, JAMES D. WATTS JR World Scene. "Black humor". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ Home on the Range with Baxter Black

External links[]

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