Round three: Carson Jorgensen, clair kherberg, Justine Nelson-Graham

Photo courtesy of Bryce Williams. Read more about Bryce in the previous post, *Meet the Makers, Round One*.

In anticipation of the upcoming Big Skies, New Visions event, the featured gearmakers would like to make your acquaintance. Read on for introductions to the final three of the featured makers and their handiwork.

Give them the virtual equivalent of a handshake–we’ve included their websites and social media handles so you can find them online. Gearmaker Week starts today! Follow the WFC’s Instagram all week with the hashtag #wfcgearmakerweek to see more from gearmakers around the West (and beyond). Are you a gearmaker? Share a photo of your own work with the hashtag #wfcgearmakerweek. In Elko? Consider bringing an item you’ve made for the “gearmaker open mic.”

Stop on by this Saturday, virtually or in real life, to connect with these makers. Talks and demos will be livestreamed and in-person on Sat., Apr. 2. See the full schedule here. There are also two evening shows featuring Jade Brodie, Annie Mackenzie, Dachuneeh Martin, Hunter Ostler, Jake Riley, and Forrest VanTuyl.

The creative future of the rural West is in their hands–and in yours. We’re pleased to meet you all!

Carson Jorgensen

“I never had enough money to buy cool stuff, so I learned to make it instead!”

— Carson Jorgensen

Carson Jorgensen of Skyline Bit and Spur was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Carson married Amy Broadhead (of West Jordan) and they are the proud parents of four, almost five, daughters.

Carson is a sixth-generation Utah rancher. He and his family run approximately 5,000 head of ewes, grazing nearly 200,000 acres of rangeland. They also farm several hundred acres, primarily alfalfa, wheat, and barley. Carson works on the ranch nearly every day. In between he runs his small business, producing high quality bits and spurs that are shipped worldwide.

Carson attended Snow College and then finished top of his class in the Diesel Technology Program from Utah Valley University. He represented the state of Utah, in the SkillsUSA national competition, where he finished in the top ten.

Carson has embraced, cultivated, and expanded his online presence via social media. It is not every day that one finds an individual from a small town of a few thousand residents, who works the land, tends a large flock of livestock, lives the rural life, and has followers from around the world.

Carson started at a young age tinkering with things around the farm. "I never had enough money to buy cool stuff, so I learned to make it instead!" In 2015, he started Skyline Bit and Spur, producing a variety of bits for a variety of disciplines.

Carson’s run for congress in 2020 was unsuccessful. In 2021, he ran for chairman of the Utah Republican Party. He was elected by a strong majority and currently serves as state party Chairman. "I learned a long time ago, that those of us in agriculture need a voice at the political table if our lifestyle is going to continue!"

Say hi to Carson on Instagram @skylinebitandspur.

Horse with custom bit by Carson Jorgensen. Photo courtesy of artist.

Spurs by Carson Jorgensen. Photo courtesy of artist.

Bit by Carson Jorgensen. Photo courtesy of artist.

Clair Kehrberg

Clair Kehrberg began her leatherworking journey in high school under the tutelage of local saddlemaker, Tom Berry. Upon graduation from high school, she earned an associates degree in saddlemaking at Spokane Falls Community College with Verlane Desgrange as the instructor. She spent a short time as an apprentice with Randy Severe at Severe Bros Saddlery in Pendleton Oregon. In 2007, Clair received a scholarship from the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association to study with world renowned saddlemaker Dale Harwood. Clair has operated her own leather arts business since 2004 where she has made everything from custom western saddles to key chains and just about everything in between! She has won awards for her work at the World Leather Debut in Wyoming, been recognized for her handbags at the International Independent Handbag Designer Awards in New York City, and won numerous leather tooling and handbag making competitions. Over the years her work has been featured in such magazines as Western Horseman, Cowboys & Indians, Western Art & Architecture, and many others. These days Clair spends as much time as possible with her little girl and makes leather goods when she can. Collectors quality handbags are the focus of her creative endeavors.

Say hi to Clair on Instagram @clairkehrberg.

Bag by Clair Kehrberg. Photo courtesy of artist.

Clair Kehrberg. Photo courtesy of artist.

Desert Dweller bag by Clair Kehrberg. Photo courtesy of artist.

Bag by Clair Kehrberg, winner of the 1st Annual Northwest Leather Masters Handbag Competition at the Pendleton Leather Show. Photo courtesy of artist.

Mountain Mama bag by Clair Kehrberg. Photo courtesy of artist.

Justine Nelson-Graham

Justine Nelson-Graham of JLN Custom Leatherwork was born in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho. She built her first bridle in 1990 at age seven, using green yarn. Her sister’s stick horse wears it proudly to this day.

Braiding and leather work has fascinated Justine for as long as she can remember. When she was 15, she discovered Bruce Grant’s books and has been braiding ever since, working initially with leather lace, bailing twine, paracord, and eventually kangaroo. The following year, her family moved to northeastern Wyoming and she started tooling and working with leather shortly thereafter. She officially began her business in 2006, focusing mainly on leather goods with an occasional saddle thrown in.

At the 2015 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Justine took Doug Groves’ rawhide braiding class. Working with rawhide really clicked with her at that class. Upon returning home, she started to experiment with making her own hides and has been braiding steadily ever since. She’s also been privileged to recently spend time working directly with the fine braiders of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. She credits their assistance with helping her refine her craft.

Justine’s rawhide work has been very well received and it now comprises a good portion of her shop work load. She finds that her leatherworking skills serve her well as a braider. She not only is able to build her own poppers and connectors, but also has the tools and equipment necessary to make stitched cores, etc. She enjoys diversity and finds that working both leather and rawhide adds to her efficiency.

Currently, Justine and her husband live and work on a cattle ranch north of Gillette, WY, where she splits her time between the outside ranch work and her leather and rawhide shop.

Say hi to Justine on Facebook at JLN Custom Leatherwork.