Hello, we are the Cowboy Trades Association.
Our mission is to recognize, celebrate, and support traditional cowboy artisans around the world, strengthen their enterprises, and ensure this heritage is preserved and continues to grow and evolve for future generations.
These traditions represent the unique functional art of the American West, including saddle making, bootmaking, hatmaking, leatherwork, silversmithing, bits and spurs, artistic blacksmithing, horsehair and rawhide braiding, and woven saddle blankets.
The Association was founded to serve artisans in the Northern Rockies—including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and eastern Nevada—and that region remains an important part of our roots. Today, we are proud to welcome craftsmen and supporters from across the West and around the world as we work to sustain and advance these time-honored trades.
Education & Training
- Explore Hands-On Workshops and Mentorship Programs: Learn directly from master craftsmen to preserve the artisan traditions of the American West.
- Access Accredited Learning Opportunities: Dive into curriculum-based programs designed for all ages and skill levels, in partnership with schools and studios across the region.
- Connect with a Community of Artisans: Collaborate, create, and celebrate cowboy arts through accessible and enriching educational experiences.
Artisans
- Celebrating the Artisans of the American West: Honoring the craftsmanship of saddle making, leatherwork, silversmithing, and more, ensuring these traditions thrive for generations to come.
- Strengthening the Enterprises of Traditional Tradesmen: Supporting craftsmen across the West and around the world through trusted resources and a strong community network.
- Preserving and Evolving Western Heritage: Bridging the past and future by fostering growth and innovation in traditional cowboy artistry.
Exhibit & Digital Presentation
- Experience the Art of the American West: Discover the timeless crafts and stories of cowboy artisans through our immersive traveling exhibit.
- Support Cultural Preservation: Your donation helps bring this exhibit to life, showcasing the rich traditions of the cowboy trades and inspiring future generations.
- Inspire Future Generations: Learn, support, and engage with the crafts that define the American West and ensure their legacy continues.
PROUD SPONSOR
Leather Machine Co. is a trusted supplier of professional leather stitching equipment and the maker of the renowned COBRA sewing machines, widely used by saddle makers, leatherworkers, and other skilled artisans. The company is known for its commitment to quality manufacturing, careful machine setup, and dependable customer service that supports craftsmen long after the sale. Their dedication to reliability, craftsmanship, and standing behind their products reflects the same values that sustain the traditional cowboy trades.
Learn more about their work at: https://leathermachineco.com/about-us/