Tag Archives: event

Cowboy Boots

Cowboy Boot & Saddlemaker Round-Up 2008

Once a year America’s boot and saddlemakers meet up in Wichita Falls, Texas. There is a swap meet, and a boot and saddle contest. It’s a cross between a trade show and a family reunion.

This year was extra special with two days of seminars/classes on bootmaking, clowns, and a night of karaoke (I kid you not.) Next year’s show will be October 2-3, 2009… you may need to bring your own clowns, so call ahead. See you there!

Here are the winners of this year’s boot contest…

Journeyman (built fewer than 15 pairs:)
Winner – Ephraim Glueck (Waco, TX)
Runner up – Bruce Bowers (Krum, TX)

Working Cowboy Boot:
Winner – Mike Vaughn (Bowie, TX)
Runner up – Alfred Reynolds (Wickenburg, AZ)

Artistry:
Winner — James Redman (Mertzon, TX)
Runner up – Alfred Reynolds (Wickenburg, AZ)

Dress Boot:
Winner — Alfred Reynolds (Wickenburg, AZ)
Runner up — C.E. “Cowboy” Loveless (Hugo, OK)

Master’s Class:
Winner — Carl Chappell (Saint Jo, TX)

Professional’s Choice:
Winner — Alfred Reynolds (Wickenburg, AZ)

 

You can visit my Flickr page to view larger versions of the photos, and to post comments and notes on top of the photos.

Cowboy Boots, Vintage Boots

Sorrell Custom Boots (on the Road)

Like many custom bootmakers, Lisa Sorrell must personally measure your foot before she will take your boot order. Fortunately, she’s willing to meet you partway.

Lisa ventures out of Guthrie, Oklahoma twice a year; once each January to the High Noon Show in Phoenix, AZ. and once in September to the Western Design Conference.

This year, I joined Lisa for the show in Phoenix. I signed books and bragged about Lisa’s bootmaking. Lisa measured feet and answered many many questions about cowboy boots and bootmaking.

Lisa’s boots were a naturally “fit” with all the fine Western art that filled the room. Her cowboy boots are “suitable for framing” as you can see from the photos of her booth, but I can personally attest that they are more fun to wear on your feet.

(For more photos of Lisa Sorrell’s boots please visit her website at www.customboots.net)

Cowboy Boots

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)

Cowboy Boots

Bodacious Boots in Santa Fe, NM

Woo Hoo! Start making your plans now to attend this year’s Santa fe Film Festival.

“Bodacious Boots” the long-anticipated cowboy boot feature documentary is paired with “Maynard Dixon: Art & Spirit” and screening in Tipton Hall at the College of Santa Fe.

  • Friday, November 30 at 2:45 pm
  • Sunday, December 2 at 5:45 pm

You’ll see me in the film …and in person! Wear you best boots... and plan to do some sight-seeing.

(You can also purchase Bodacious Boots online. Each DVD includes the feature film and more than an hour of bonus material.)

Cowboy Boots

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.