Baxter Black was a cowboy poet and icon known all over the world. His words and his stories gave those of us who live this cowboy life permission to celebrate it. As a performer he was unparalleled. For those who were blessed to get to meet and know him they found a warm engaging soul. Baxter Black the performer was larger than life but so was the man."
Black was born in the Brooklyn Navel Hospital in Brooklyn, NY but grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In high school, Black became the Future Farmers of America president, the senior class president and lettered in wrestling one year. He began riding bulls in rodeos while in high school and continued riding throughout college. Stated quite often his lack of sense riding bulls prepared him for his team roping career.
He received his undergraduate degree at New Mexico State University and completed veterinary school at Colorado State University, graduating in 1969. He was a practicing veterinarian from 1969 to 1982, specializing in large animals, such as cows and horses.
During the last two years of his veterinary career, Black gained popularity through public speaking with over 250 appearances. After this, his career as a poet began. Black also hosted the public television series Baxter Black and Friends. He wrote a column, spoke on the radio and had shot segments on RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel.
Black wrote more than 30 books of poetry, fiction--novels and children's literature--and commentary, including Cactus Tracks and Cowboy Philosophy; Lessons from a Desperado Poet; Horseshoes, Cowsocks & Duckfeet; Hey Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky?; Loose Cow Party; and Croutons on a Cow Pie.
Former Morning Edition host Bob Edwards recalled that "he knew our audience and he knew how he fit in.... He would gear some of his commentary in that way, like the people who were against.... fur coats, use of fur, and Bax thought you should recycle roadkill and use the fur as clothing for dolls. So Barbie would have a fur coat from a dead possum or something. That was one of his tweaks at public radio right there."
Noting that he was "a beloved figure in the agricultural industry, and outpourings on his behalf have been going on for months while Black was in hospice care," AGDaily wrote that Black's poetry "was often based on real-life situations, and he seemed to find humor in even the less humorous and western situations. The performer even referred to being 'down to no keys' at a point in his life, a time when he had nowhere to call his own and nothing to drive. However, he didn't stay down long."
In 1984, Black wrote a poem about wildfires in Yellowstone and sent it to NPR, which picked it up and asked for more. When asked why it worked, Black said, "I was the oddity. That's why it worked."
In addition to his books and sharing his works in public venues, he wrote a weekly column, appeared on RFD-TV, and published and recorded audiobooks. AGDaily noted that he "sold more than a million books and audios, entertaining countless people over his career. One of Black's shining attributes was his ability to connect to and inspire people."
"I like what I do," he once said. "I have a great home to come home to, a couple good horses, a few cows, a good dog, and friends everywhere I go. I'm square with God and I make a living entertaining people I care about."
He and his wife, Cindy Lou, resided in Benson, Arizona, where they had no cell phone, television or fax machine.In late 2021, Black retired from writing and speaking engagements due to health problems. He entered hospice care in January.
