Baxter Black - About Baxter

About Baxter

Black was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on January 2, 1945. In high school, he had a few honorable feats such as becoming the FFA President, the Senior Class President, and lettered in wrestling one year. Beginning in high school, he started to riding bulls in rodeos and continued riding throughout college. Baxter Black attended college at New Mexico State University and Colorado State University, and graduated in 1969. If it wasn't for Black's extensive education he would not be where he is today, and would never have been able to become a veterinarian, or a poet for that matter. Before becoming a poet, he practiced medicine as a veterinarian. His veterinarian career last from 1969 to 1982, and 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 spoke on the side.. His charisma and humor were appealing to his crowds, which added to his popularity. He continued his job as a veterinarian for two years, and during that time he spoke at over 250 programs. His last company let him go, and his speaking jobs still kept coming in. After this series of events, his career as a poet was beginning and he still continues to speak at Agricultural conferences and other social events across the country, write a column, speak on the radio, and has a short segment on RFD-TV.

He currently 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 folks to be a cowboy, "Ya either are one, or ya aren't!"." (Black, B.)