(Posted November 18, 2002)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Baxter Black, the laconic bard of the barn known for his rural-flavored ruminations on cows, fishing, barbed wire and feed stores will spin stories and otherwise entertain at Juniata College as part of the college's Artist Series at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23 in Rosenberger Auditorium in Oller Hall on the Juniata campus.

For tickets and information about the Juniata College Artist Series, please call (814) 641-3605. General admission tickets for single performances are $15. Season tickets are $65. Single-show tickets for seniors over age 65 and children age 18 and under are $8 and season tickets for seniors are $30. Juniata College students are admitted free with a student ID.

Black's dry-as-an-Arizona-feed trough wit is heard regularly on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition." He also writes a weekly syndicated column "On the Edge of Common Sense" for newspapers around the country.

Black started his career as a large-animal veterinarian, but found that his true talent lay not in curing bovine maladies, but rather in entertaining humans with homespun tales.

He has written 12 books, including the title "Croutons on a Cow Pie, Volume II" and recorded more than a dozen audio and videotapes. His poem titles include "#2 Hairball," "Why Do the Trees All Lean in Wyoming?" and "Cowboy Standard Time."

Black has said that his work is available at "big city libraries and small-town feed stores."

Black also has appeared on numerous television shows, including "The Tonight Show" and several PBS shows.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.