Articles written by baxter black
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On the Edge of Common Sense
If Herefords were black and Angus were red would breeders of Herefords breed Angus instead? I mean, would the people who bred Herefords first be now breeding Angus if things were reversed. Or would...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Dr. Fosse, once of Pretoria, told me about Martha and Arthur, two star crossed rare white rhinos. In a governmental gesture of goodwill, South Africa agreed to ship Arthur to Tanzania to mate with...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Grandpa Tommy’s dad used to say “A cowful is a substantial quantity.” According to my research, the rumen on a mature cow can hold up to 300 pounds. And by anybody’s standards that is quite a bit. Sa...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Embarrassing moments. Nobody likes to talk about them. Oh, they’ll talk about slipping on the ice on their first date or getting bucked off a gentle horse. Other folks empathize and usually they l...
On the Edge of Common Sense
I consider myself among other things, a former horse mechanic. The horses I did veterinary work on were ranch and feedlot beasts of burden. Workin’ animals from man’s point of view. Up until abo...
On the Edge of Common Sense
He was the last burro left in the dusty corral. His two companions had been sold by the man. They were younger, stronger and finer looking even by burro standards, which are quite high. They were...
On the Edge of Common Sense
1. New baler twine to tie up last year’s five-buckle overshoes. 2. Something that will kill Canadian thistle. 3. A hot shot that works for more than a morning. 4. A dog that does more good out of t...
On the Edge of Common Sense
I’m takin’ you back to the summer of 2003. Out of the blue I got a call from Patrick Gottsch, a member of the well-known Nebraska ag family. He told me he was building a TV channel dedicated sol...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Yeah, he wished he was a cowboy but just at times like this (Yup, he’s glad that he’s a cowboy but there’s times on days like this) When he spent the day ahorseback and had time to reminisce (When...
On the Edge of Common Sense
How do you explain Thanksgiving to a 3 year old? “A long time ago...” “Yesterday?” “No, more than yesterday. A bunch of people came in a big boat...” “Pirates?” “No, good guys and mamas and babies....
On the Edge of Common Sense
They stood in the back of the room lookin’ like two Oakland Raider linebackers at a preppie quiche-tasting party. They had on unblocked hats with flat brims and each man wore a neck scarf and new W...
On the Edge of Common Sense
In hunting camp an outfitter reached down and stirred the fire. His client belched contentedly and said, “Might I inquire, That jerky you been chewin’ up… could I just try a bit? I fancy I’m a conno...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Ol’ Wayne was real particular about his steers. He figgered if he spent his hard earned pennies tryin’ to get a few extra pounds, he dang sure wasn’t gonna sweat it off ‘em durin’ the gather. N...
On the Edge of Common Sense
It was a bad day at Black Rock that fateful Halloween. It all began the week before, the call had seemed routine. “I’ve got a mare needs checkin’, Doc, I b’lieve the sweetheart’s bred.” “I’ll swing...
On the Edge of Common Sense
He rose in the class, hand over his heart And spoke of his future career “The political ring’s where I’ll throw my hat I love the applause and the cheers.” “I’ll learn all the buzzwords, and then ma...
On the Edge of Common Sense
I was sittin’ in the back row of a beautiful little church in a mountain town in the Rockies. I was there for the wedding of a daughter of good friends. As the service progressed, my attention was dra...
On the Edge of Common Sense
It struck in late October like a plague of mustard gas. It started with a trickle but then soon began to mass. In pens and cattle alleys on the new receiving side, The fall run was beginning and...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Mr. Moses remarked the other day he’d received a catalog in the mail from a western clothing outfit. He wasn’t sure who the outfit catered to, but the name ‘Long Island’ seemed to stick in his mind. T...
On the Edge of Common Sense
I have known and worked with many women in the feedlot business. Some as cowboys, some as vets, some as lay doctors, as cattle processors, feed-truck drivers, foremen (or forepersons) and managers...
On the Edge of Common Sense
Catching avocado rustlers is sort of a cross between the Covid virus, wildfires, exchange students bearing addictive goodies and coon hunting. “All right, come down outta that tree and drop that a...
On the Edge of Common Sense
They were just words. “Tear down the Berlin Wall!” Reagan to Gorbachev at the Brandenburg Gate, 1987 “Chance of rain.” Weatherman in Louisiana before Hurricane Katrina, 2005. “Give me liberty o...
On the Edge of Common Sense
When the crew came toward the cookhouse Hazel shut and locked the door. “Don’t you even think about it! Looks like y’all been in a war.” And though Hazel didn’t know it, she was not far off the track...
On the Edge of Common Sense
There is a common belief among many urban folks that a cowboy rides around all day and sings to cows. John Wayne and Tom Mix added “Drifting Ranch Saver” to their résumé. “Don’t worry, Nell, Bla...
On the Edge of Common Sense
I played in a celebrity golf tournament in Oklahoma City a while back. Now, I’ve been to a few celebrity team ropings, a couple celebrity stock dog trials, a million brandings and one celebrity r...
On the Edge of Common Sense
“The farmer has always been a peasant.” – Richard Blinco Idaho When the market crashed in 1975, Richard had a ranch, feedlot, dairy, potatoes, alfalfa and a packing house. Here we sit 45 years later...
