Whether out on the range or in the arena, a saddle has to hold up under hard use. Many are factory-made, but custom Western saddles are crafted by skilled leatherworkers.

From artisan jewelry to cowboy boot spurs, women silversmiths in Idaho turn raw metal into works of art. As part of a special Expressive Idaho series, we are listening back to a gathering of Idaho artisans called the “Cowgirl Congress.”

The history of cowboy boot making in the U.S. has been lost to time, but some women are still crafting the iconic Western gear. For this episode of Expressive Idaho, we go back to a 2022 gathering of artisans called the "Cowgirl Congress."

Ornately-beaded attire is an important aspect of Nez Perce tribal gatherings and parades – even for horses. The tradition of hand sewing horse regalia goes back generations. Horses are often draped in keyhole shaped head pieces, beaded saddle drops and decorative martingales at the chest.

In her leather working studio, Kari McCluey hangs a pair of bright pink chaps, their sides decorated with shiny metal conchos embedded in three-dimensional leather flowers. The Boise leather artist is known by cowgirls for her whimsical chaps that embrace and embody femininity.

It’s a chilly evening in December and dozens of families and friends line the walls and corners of the high-ceilinged El Korah Shrine dance hall in Boise. They are milling excitedly on the sidelines, all waiting for the same thing.

In North Idaho, Lapwai is home to many members of the Nez Perce tribe, who call themselves the Nimíipuu. Raised in Lapwai, Jenny Williams, Omaha-Nez Perce, is a skilled Indigenous weaver who is passing down generations of traditional hand work to others in her community.

More than a dozen riders at the Blackfoot Ranch Rodeo this year, held at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds, rode in a saddle made by one man: Chase Carter. He's a rancher and saddle maker who helps organize the event and comes every year to see his handiwork in action.

Boise Circus performer Cuream Jackson is taking a very old art and using it to contemplate race and gender identity. He comes to the circus as an aerialist, performing with silks, hoops, trapeze and his favorite, straps, considered the most difficult of the aerial disciplines.

Tejanos have been around Paul, Idaho for as long as Damian Rodriguez can remember. The agricultural community saw an influx of the population each summer as migrant workers arrived to tend the fields.