Where Leather Becomes Legacy
📍Watch the video above as I walk through decades of cowboy history and see leather turned into art in Sheridan, Wyoming
Where Leather Becomes Legacy
As I stepped inside the Don King Western Musuem with my leather boots, the saddles, spurs, and cowboy history filled every corner. My senses were on overload especially as the "stuffed" animals stared back at me, but the leather caught my eye most. I leaned my face close to the glass and read about the artists, their tools, their processes and their methods on communicating with their customers via hand written letters. Everything was poured into the work by hand. That struck me, because I know what it is like to create something from scratch.
This leather work taught me:
- Craftsmanship becomes their signature
Don King carved leather so distinctly, his style took the name of his town: the Sheridan style. Al and Ann Stohlman did the same with their pattern books, and their name became the standard leather artists still learn from. - Intentional design gets the spotlight
From rodeo champions to Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, everyone came to see these saddles. You can spot pics of the Queen in my video above! - Hard work is the one thing you can't automate
No machines, no AI, only real hands and real hours, and that is exactly what makes these pieces priceless today.
Moment of Gratitude
This museum tells the history, but our family and friends are living it. I am grateful to everyone who gave us a tour of the town and the land. Raising 400+ cattle on over 100,000 acres (yes, 100k!) takes true dedication.
Ranchers mark their cattle so everyone knows who they belong to. Does your brand leave a lasting mark on those you meet?
Let's Leave Your Mark
