Tag Archives: Custom Boots

Front Page News


Go read Lynn Brezosky’s article, Storied cowboy boot makers in Valley are in big demand, in this morning’s San Antonio Express-News.

The article has quotes and insights from longtime Rio Grande Valley bootmakers, Pat Moody (Rios of Mercedes,) Vicente Cavazos (Cavazos Boots) and Joe Martinez (Vaquero Boot Company.) The are also special guest appearances by Jess Monroe and yours truly.

To locate these and other South Texas bootmakers visit my custom bootmaker list.

Click on the image to get a glimpse of the photos.

2007 Winners of the Best of American Bootmakers Competition


This is the second year Silver Dollar City has held a Best of American Bootmakers Competition.

Each park visitor got a chance to vote for their favorite cowboy boots. Over 7,500 ballots and 35,000 votes were cast.

Silver Dollar City awarded over $12,500.00 in cash and products to the winning bootmakers.

Congratulations to the winners!

Work Boot

1st Place — Mark Schumacher (Wolsey, SD)

2nd Place — Wild Bill (Granby, CT)

3rd Place — Dew Westover (Vernon, TX)

Office Boot

1st Place — Carl Chappell (Saint Jo, TX)

2nd Place — Stephanie Ferguson (Millsap, TX)

3rd Place — Mike Spikes (Henrietta, TX)


Stage Boot

1st Place — Keith Rohwedder (Weatherford, TX)

2nd Place — Pascal (North Hollywood, CA)

3rd Place — Stephanie Ferguson (Millsap, TX)

Novice Class

1st Place — Jacky Heflin (Keller, TX)

2nd Place — Alys Glaze (Saint Jo, TX)

3rd Place — Steve McCord (Henrietta, TX)


Best Shop Effort

1st Place — Robert Brest (San Angelo, TX)

2nd Place — Olsen Seltzer (Henrietta, TX)

3rd Place — Tres Outlaw (El Paso, TX)

Best of Show

Carl Chappell (Saint Jo, TX)

Artist Choice Award …Voted on by Silver Dollar City Master Craftsmen

Carl Chappell (Saint Jo, TX)

Next year, Silver Dollar City will have a working boot and saddle shop, during its Salute to the Great American Cowboy in September 2008 (in lieu of a boot contest.) Plan your own visit to Silver Dollar City, where they have a passion in keeping, demonstrating and showcasing the “lost arts” of the past. (video)

Boot Contest 2007

Each year at the Boot & Saddle Maker Trade Show Round-Up there is a boot contest. This year, there were loads of cowboy boots.

The boots sit on the tables unmarked. Everyone who visits the show gets to vote for their favorite boots and saddles. Sometimes I can figure out which boot belongs to who, either from design features…or the sometimes the buzz in the room. This year I had a difficult time because there were so many entries.

(More photos & stories at Custom Cowboy Boots Discussion Board.)

(Click here for full-size photos & more captions)

2007 Cowboy Boot Contest Winners

Journeyman

Winner: Terry Glueck (Waco, TX)

Runner-Up: Steve McCord (Henrietta, TX)

Working Cowboy

Winner: James Redman (Mertzon, TX)

Runner-Up: Mike Vaughn (Bowie, TX)

Artistry

Winner: Jacky Heflin (Keller, TX)

Runner-Up: Brian Thomas (Abilene, TX)


Open Class

Winner: Dew Westover (Vernon, TX)

Runner-Up: Cowboy Loveless (Hugo, OK)

Top Stitching

Winner: Mike Vaughn (Bowie, TX)

Runner-Up: Ben Gonzales (Bryan, TX)

Masters

Lisa Sorrell (Guthrie, Ok)

Professional’s Choice

Brian Thomas (Abilene, TX)

Next year’s show is October 3-4, 2008 in Wichita Falls, TX. See you there.