Mike Czyz started The Red Tractor Leather Co. in 2013. He is a full time artist / leatherworker, using a traditional method of hand carving and tooling that has been around for centuries. Mike only uses full grain, vegetable tanned, leather hides when carving his designs.
Mike learned many of his traditional leather crafting skills while working as an art teacher on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation at The Holy Rosary Mission.
“The time I spent working with the Lakota children were among the most cherished moments in my life.”
Mike continued to cultivate his love of leatherwork after meeting the legendary saddle maker, Jim Gregory.
“Jim graciously allowed me to look over his shoulder many times and ask him questions as he built saddles. It is truly amazing to watch him carve leather, and I feel very Blessed for the time he spent with me.”
Mike and his family live in Walton, NE. A portion of all Red Tractor Leather sales are donated back to Red Cloud Indian School 😉
Thank you for supporting us!!!
A Day in the Life of a Leatherworker
Hello my friends! To me, there’s nothing better than waking up before sunrise and heading outside to get warm by the fire. Cowboy coffee brewing on the pit, percolating in the background as the rest of God’s Creation comes alive. Instead of beeps, buzzes and dings caused by cell phones, I hear woodpeckers, geese and squirrels starting their days. Our chickens rise from their roost and commence with their daily routine of scratching for food the same way they’ve done a thousand times in the past. The horses next door make their way through the cedar trees to stop for a moment to say hello. Taffy, one of our cats, makes his way in from a long night of hunting – grabbing his spot on the warm metal seat of the old Ford. He quickly closes his eyes and his adventure is now over. I push the front of my hat back to get a little more sun on my face. How Blessed we are!
It’s a simple way of life but I think most of us can see the brilliance in God’s handiwork when we take the time to admire it. This constant reflecting on God’s design has inspired me to pick up the ancient craft of leather carving and tooling. It’s an art that hasn’t changed much over the years – an honest and rewarding profession that needs no electricity or the latest phone update. The only mouse I see is the one behind the hay bail that sneaks chicken feed when she thinks the coast is clear. C’mon Taffy!
I use ‘hand me down’ tools, knives and paint brushes to create my designs. I have been known to make my own organic dyes from black walnuts found on the land. The leather conditioner I make has two ingredients (Beeswax and olive oil). This helps keep the leather soft and adds protection from moisture. And best of all, you could eat it if you were really hungry…
The leather responds true to the cuts and stamps I make, fueling the addiction to design more. Leather workers create artwork they can touch, feel and mold with their hands. Many of my leather hides have imperfections (scars from fencing and trees) and brand marks that I feel actually add to the design. They add a bit of personality of the piece 😉
We also offer Art classes for young and old! Click here to learn about what we offer and how to get involved!
Thank you for stopping by and if you have any questions or want to talk about a custom piece I can create for you, visit our custom leather page!