Behind the Buckle: SpurWest Founder's Story
Roots Run Deep
SpurWest was born from the back of a horse, the dust of the hay fields, and the sketchpad dreams of a small-town kid who grew up on a family farm where hard work wasn’t just expected—it was a way of life.
My roots start on a rural Georgia farm, where my great-grandparents grew flowers to make a living. My great-grandfather would haul buckets of fresh-cut blooms to florists and funeral homes, sometimes driving as far as Atlanta or Nashville. As times changed, so did the farm—eventually shifting to potatoes, and later cattle. My Pawpaw was the heart of the farm, raising cattle with quiet strength and grit, all while working full-time as a welder. My dad drove an 18-wheeler during the day, but come evening, you’d find him right there beside Pawpaw—feeding cows, fixing fences, or baling hay. My mom was a dedicated school teacher who loved her students fiercely and poured her heart into the classroom. Aunts, uncles, and cousins all worked different jobs—nurses, electricians, you name it—but when the farm needed hands, everyone showed up. It was just what we did. Hay season was all hands on deck. Cold or not, livestock don’t care—somebody’s still got to break the ice and haul the water. That kind of teamwork and grit shaped who I am.
From the time I was little, two things lit me up: art and horses. I spent hours with a pencil in hand, begging my mom to give me new subjects to draw. When I got my first horse at age eight, I found a whole new kind of canvas. I fell in love with barrel racing and was lucky enough to learn from local legends who took me under their wing. Our family’s budget was limited, so the horses I had growing up weren’t professionally trained—some had barely any training at all. But that challenge became part of the magic for me. Teaching a horse something new, building trust, and figuring it out together lit a fire in me. It taught me patience, consistency, and heart—lessons I carried with me long after the arena, and ones that laid the foundation for becoming an entrepreneur.
The Brand’s Beginnings
At 18, reality hit. Horses are expensive, and being a grocery store cashier didn’t cut it. I took a break from riding, started college, and tried to focus on the future. But the pull of training and barrel racing never left. At 20, I bought a little bay roan named Brody— he was a cheap trail horse, but I saw so much potential with him, and I was determined to find a way to afford this lifestyle I loved so much.
That’s where SpurWest really began.
With the last bit of my savings, I bought a t-shirt press, some blanks, and an old horse trailer. I started selling graphic tees at rodeos and barrel races, hoping I could break even just to keep riding. And for years, that’s exactly what I did. I’d compete during the day and sell shirts by night. My friends helped run the booth, and after races we’d gather around campfires and horse trailers, swapping stories and living in a moment we thought would never end. All the while, that little bay roan gelding—Brody—turned out to be more than I ever expected. The potential I saw in him from the start proved to be real. We became a true team, holding our own and placing against some of the toughest competitors around. SpurWest grew from those grassroots moments, from the dusty arenas, and from the community of cowboys and cowgirls who supported me from the very start.
A New Chapter
In 2022, I was craving something new. I’d been designing tees for years and wanted to explore new creative ground. As I stepped further into adulthood, I found myself drifting away from the competitive barrel racing world that had once been the center of everything. It was bittersweet, but it opened up space for new inspiration.
Around that time, I met Michael, a local with experience in jewelry design. From our very first conversation, it was clear we shared similar dreams and a passion for creating something meaningful. The collaboration felt fresh, exciting—like the start of something special. I remembered the belt buckles I’d won growing up—beautiful symbols of achievement that rarely saw the light of day. I thought, “What if there was a way to wear them, every day?” That’s when the idea for the Mini Belt Buckle Necklace was born.
With help from my co-designer Michael—we refined the concept and launched it in July 2023. The response was incredible. It felt like a fresh chapter for SpurWest, and the start of something even bigger.
In February 2024, one of SpurWest’s videos finally broke through the algorithm wall and went viral. The Mini Belt Buckle Necklace garnered millions of views, and with it came a wave of new support, recognition from major country music stars, and a move into a new, bigger warehouse. Michael quit his job and joined the team as a co-owner, and SpurWest officially grew from a grassroots operation into a full-blown brand.
But even as SpurWest grows, its roots remain the same. This brand was built on grit, creativity, and community—and it will always be for those who live boldly, love deeply, and stay true to who they are. Around here, we call it authentic style, untamed spirit—a phrase that captures not just what we wear, but how we live.
Thanks for being here. You’re not just supporting a brand—you’re riding alongside the story.