Tools of the Cowboy Trade – Featuring Marty Thompson

On September 2nd the Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s Tools of the Trade series will present Saddle Maker Marty Thompson at the Union Station, 2501 Wall Avenue.  The presentation will be from 6pm to 8pm.

Marty Thompson grew up in Huntsville, Utah. Some of his earliest memories are of him curling up on the shelves of his dad’s leather shop and napping on the sheepskin hides. In 1989 at the age of 16, he completed his first saddle under the instruction of his dad, with a grant from the Utah Arts Council. Marty has become skilled in many areas of saddle making and leather tooling. He has had the opportunity to instruct two other apprentices through the grant opportunity offered by the Utah Arts Council. Marty is employed at Smith and Edwards where he is the Western Retail Manager, as well as managing the leather operation they run through their wholesale department. Marty continues to do custom leather work out of his shop in his home. Marty and his wife Monica live in Wellsville, Utah, they are the parents of two boys who can be found right beside Marty learning the trade the same way Marty did. Marty loves taking a piece of raw leather and turning it into functional art, he loves to share the trade and continues to learn and perpetuate the art.