June 10, 2022, the Agricultural World lost one of the greatest AGvocates, humorists/cowboy poets; Baxter Black, former large animal veterinarian. He was a true friend in every sense, always ready to listen and his laughter made you feel good. It has been said that in the United States, you cannot make a living as a poet. But Baxter was not only a poet, he was a COWBOY POET and a heck of a good one at that! He made a successful life selling his books, CD’s, DVD’s, weekly columns and comments. His words were true gold.
As a young cowgirl poet, I was unsure of myself, my writing and asked Baxter to critique my work. He refused. He then told me that my audience was the ones who would tell me if my work is good and that his opinion wasn’t important. But it was to me. I later realized that he did like my work, because he would occasionally call me to find out what misadventure I had found myself in and if I had written any more poetry. In a way, he was a “special” audience, silently cheering me on and looking back I think he was my greatest fan. He had a way of bringing out my best poetry, just by the few words we spoke between us.
I remember his last Kansas performance. The county fair at St. Francis, Kansas had booked him. That was a wet year out there and a thunderstorm had postponed the show and most of us waited almost 2 hours for him to perform. It was worth the wait! Even though he was tired, he took the time to visit with everyone after the show and then he sat down with me as I asked for advice. It was nearly midnight and he still had to drive to his motel but he took that time to speak with me. I will never forget that evening, the visit and the words of advice. To this day, his book, “Lessons from a Desperado Poet” goes with me where ever I go, just like my Bible. His inscription “Stay Strong” means more to me than just what the words do. From time to time, when we visited on the phone or via email, I told him about the arrows I was shooting into the sky, a lesson I took from that book. He would laugh and I could tell he hadn’t really expected me to take his book so seriously, but it has been a huge influence on my writing.
Baxter was a living legend in my opinion. He made cowboy poetry fashionable to listen to when NPR took him on for his wit and common sense. RFD-TV shows his videos. His articles in ag magazines and papers were the first thing I looked for, before I read the rest. Yeah, he was important to me and to many others like me who are just getting our feet in the cowboy poetry pool.
From time-to-time, I would visit on the phone or exchange emails with his wife Cindy Lou and his office assistant, Vikki. They like Baxter have that same “everyone is a friend” personality. I am truly heartbroken for those family members and former employees who worked with him daily. I can only imagine how fun it was to be in that office. OH, to be a fly on the wall! I am sure their loss is great and I pray that God’s Peace that Passes all understanding will envelope them and hold them as Baxter’s passing although we knew it was coming, is still so hard to accept.
Baxter was a Godly man and it showed. He will be missed on this earth and I envy all those who are up beyond those Pearly Gates because not only did another Saint join the Heavenly Realm, they are laughing and enjoying stories and poems that Baxter wrote! It makes me impatient to get there myself. It seems I have more mentors and good cowboy friends already “UP THERE.”
To my dear friend, mentor and greatest encourager: Baxter, you will be dearly missed. I am not sure how long it will be, but I WILL see you on the other side!
Educated Cowpuncher 