Christmas and calving season are when I get the most orders.” “I call that job security,” says Lawrence, adding, “You can tell the season by the orders. An order for a bit or spurs today would probably have an 18 month wait before delivery, but the ranchers and cowboys are patient, knowing that it will be worth the wait. Word of mouth has kept him busier than he could have imagined. Through some hard years on the ranch Lawrence says that making the bits and spurs “Kind of kept the wolf away from the door!” Very proud of their family, Ed has made something special for all of the grandkids, and it does his heart good to see them using it.įrom the beginning, Ed’s gear was functional, durable and attractive, so pretty quick, folks started asking him to make them something. Their daughter Nancy and her husband Doug Thorson live near Quinn, SD, and have three children, Grace, in college, Cassidy in high school, and Hannah, 5. The bits, buckles and spurs that Justin uses are all made by his dad. They are on the ranch with Ed and Mary, plus Justin is a well known cowhorse trainer who shows all over the west. Justin and his wife Kelcie, have two kids, Kagan, 6, and Dallie, 5. His wife Mary chuckled and said of their son, “Justin’s never had to work with bad tack! He’s always had the good stuff that Ed’s made.” The bit intrigued Lawrence, and he says, “I redid that bit and it took off from there.” He found that he really enjoyed working on that bit, so he started making some bits and spurs when he had a little time. In that bag was an old bit that was in pretty tough shape. In 1977, Ed was given a bag of miscellaneous gear from an old friend. Primarily a bit and spur maker, Lawrence also makes buckles and an occasional jewelry piece. A saddle on a stand is about half done, plus there are bridles and other gear waiting for repairs. His work benches evidence his craft, from bits and spurs to leather work. Tucked into the yard between the house and corrals is the workshop of Ed Lawrence. Hereford and black-baldy cows graze the spring grass, their calves sheltered from the wind by the trees and brush of the river bottom. Just south of the tiny town of Alzada, MT, lies the Lawrence Ranch nestled along the protected meadows of the Little Missouri River. Jake farms and Lauren works as a commodities trader, when they are not working, they are busy raising their daughter, Sadie Grace.Photo courtesy Ed LawrenceThis popular bit can be made with various mouth pieces, and is a favorite of Lawrence's. Lauren and her husband, Jake live in Hereford, Texas. Lauren graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Jeff has one daughter, Lauren Payne Urbanczyk. If you ask him what he’s most proud of, he will tell you, “Being Lauren’s Dad!” Jeff lives in Glen Rose, Texas – when he is not working in the shop, he is out working his cattle. It is this philosophy that keeps turning customers into friends! “I’m here to build you what you want.”Jeff explains to each customer, “It will be one-of-a-kind, and something that you will be proud to pass down to your children and grandchildren.” What he can build is only limited by the imagination of his customer. For Jeff, Bits and Spurs are tools of the trade and have one primary function, and that is to improve the horsemanship of the rider, and if you can look good while doing it, even better!Īs Jeff often describes himself, “I’m just a one-man operation working out of my shop, building one piece at a time.” All work is custom built to order. Having done some “cowboying” in his youth, Jeff is committed to building a sound product at a price affordable for the working cowboy. By 1990, Jeff was building spurs and bits full time. When the Texas economy turned in the late 1980s, what began as a hobby soon grew into a necessity as the demand for his Ranch Management skills diminished as oil prices plummeted. Jerry Cates and Jeff soon struck up, what was to grow, into a life-long friendship. Jerry invited Jeff back the next day to watch him work and Jeff soon began to dabble with making bits and spurs in his spare time. Grateful, Jeff stopped by Jerry’s shop to thank him. In 1988 his wife, a native of Amarillo, gave him a pair of Jerry Cates handmade spurs for Christmas. Jeff didn’t start out aiming to build spurs for a living. It is on this simple statement that Jeff Payne has built his business. Jeff Payne and Jerry Cates, Abilene Bit and Spur Show 2011. Just send it back to me and I’ll give your money back.” “You get’em home, and for whatever reason – it don’t work for you, or you just don’t like ‘em.
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