![]() Yes, there have been major donors – the late Forrest Mars Jr., the (Edward) Whitney Foundation and local artist Neltje, to name a few – but hundreds if not thousands of locals rally to support various projects in whatever capacity they can. An astounding number per capita, she adds. ![]() Holsinger points to the town’s numerous nonprofits and liberal philanthropists. In large part, the magic of Sheridan can be traced to its residents – both their sense of community and their overwhelming generosity. “People still wear boots but you can also live here without owning a pair of boots,” he says and then smiles. Yes, Sheridan’s history is rooted in the West and the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is still the biggest event of the year, Koltiska says. Sheridan is only a short drive to the Brinton Museum’s renowned art collection, to the Wagon Box Battlefield and to boundless camping and hiking opportunities in the Bighorn Mountains. ![]() “It’s only 17,000 to 18,000 people, but we have amenities other places don’t have,” he says.Īmenities such as four performing arts theaters, a new indoor ice rink, top-notch schools, state-of-the-art medical facilities and a thriving YMCA.īesides amenities, there’s plenty to do. Ryan Koltiska, communications director at the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce, describes his hometown as an “all around town that seems bigger than it is.” Sweep your gaze across the street and the marquee at the stately WYO Theater announces an upcoming Shakespeare extravaganza. Only four strides more and you come face to face with a statue of two horses - one of several dozen statues, mostly bronzes, that decorate the downtown area. The Mint Bar is about as “cowboy” as you can get, and yet next door the Midtown Café advertises a gluten-free menu. The creative freedom that he enjoys has been hard earned, but Balding still stays at the helm of the production process that makes Balding Bits and Spurs one of the most prominent makers in the industry.A short stroll down Main Street reveals just that. Sometimes he will free hand concept drawings that will later make its way into a formal prototype. This has created an inequality in the market.”Īfter so many original designs created and hanging in the mouths of horses around the world, he still finds his inspiration simply through his everyday interactions. Companies in China have been copying American made bit designs at a lower quality and cost. He explains that one of the biggest difficulties is “creating and maintaining original designs. He takes pride in having some of his employees with him for over 20 years.īut with all of the success that Balding has found in the market, it has its fair share of challenges for him. It is seeing the bits and spurs in use on the trainers and riders that are his customers and the design process that he employs through his customers and employees that he still enjoys to this day. To this day, he still has the same inspirations and satisfaction in what he does. Soon, the demand increased from his customers for his items to be “dressed up” a little, so the silver began to appear. With a passion for the western culture fed through the trainers, competitors and riders that use his product, Tom Balding is still forging ahead in the industry after nearly 30 years.Ī self-taught artist, Balding began building bits and spurs in 1986. ![]() ![]() Tom Balding Sheridan, Wyoming Bit and Spur Maker & Silversmith ![]()
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