Badger Clark

Born Charles Badger Clark in Albia, Iowa, in 1883, he grew up in a family with deep literary interests and later became closely associated with the ranching life and landscapes of the West. That experience gave his poetry its easy voice, vivid scenery, and lasting appeal.

Clark became especially known for cowboy poetry that captured everyday life on the range with warmth, wit, and rhythm. His work helped preserve a popular image of the American cowboy while also showing real affection for the people and places he wrote about.

He spent many years in South Dakota and was recognized as the state’s first poet laureate. After his death in 1957, he remained an important figure in Western literature, and his home near Custer—often called Badger Hole—became part of his legacy.