At the Sierra Bonita Ranch in Graham and Cochise counties, it’s traditional for the cowboys to have lunch together anytime there’s a gathering or roundup. Jesse Hooker Davis, whose family has ranched in Arizona since 1872, stands at the back left of this image. His ranch manager of 40 years, José Adame, is seated at the front right. “Thick adobe walls were built to protect this ranch house from attacks by Apaches,” Baxter says. “There’s a room on one end where Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp used to hang out.”
Excerpted from Scott Baxter’s Arizona: Life on the Range, photos by Scott Baxter, edited by Kelly Vaughn (Arizona Highways, 2017). This is a slim volume with a big impact, with selections from Baxter’s impressive 20-year career photographing Arizona ranch life. While the wide-open scenery and the action shots are noteworthy, it’s the haunting photo portraits we won’t forget.
Pick up multiple copies as hostess gifts or stocking stuffers. Your friends and family will thank you.
