My name is Rivers Gilkison and I am the owner and creator of Rivers Beall Leather.
Originally from Winchester, Kentucky, I've been surrounded by farming my whole life. From a young age, I have learned the importance of where our food comes from and the hard work that comes with it. Being able to witness the full circle of farm-to-table has led me to be interested in creating products that are made from the ground up.
From the age of four to sixteen, I played soccer - travel and school teams. Traveling the state of Kentucky, as well as, occasionally playing in other states, I learned the importance of commitment and thick clothing. Playing in the sleet and pouring rain was not for me. On the commitment side of things, I believe that this is a trait I have continued to carry with me. Working with leather is constant trials and errors and majority of the time I would like to give up and move on. However, I have committed myself to something that is rare and brings joy to so many around me. Perseverance and good iced coffee are some things I am currently learning the importance of.
I would love to take credit for this unique idea, but I owe it all to my mom. In search of ways to do more than beef with our cattle, she came up with the idea of repurposing the hides. In the beginning of 2020, she flew to Burns, Oregon for a week to learn about where to begin with such an idea. Touching back down in Kentucky, she came home with multiple leather bags and clue of what to do! Over the next few years, she created herself a little leather shop in the room across from my bedroom. Looking in there every day, my interest grew in the craft, but I wanted to take it a step farther. I wanted to make cowboy boots!!
In the beginning of 2023, I was taught how to work with leather by the same person my mom learned from three years prior - Tim Alden. He taught my family how to make all kinds of products: purses, wallets, and even a duck call lanyard. From that point on, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to learn more. A couple months after my high school graduation, my dad and I travelled to Burns, Oregon with an itinerary of boot class for three weeks. For that time period, I learned how build a sturdy pair of custom boots. A challenge for sure, but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn a niche craft and hopefully begin making my own line of boots.
Fast forward a few years, I am still working to make a second pair. I stared college at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 2023 and that is where I still reside in my studies of Agriculture Economics. I am often asked what I plan to do with my degree, to which I normally respond with "I keep asking myself that too!". However, I do know that agriculture is where I belong, and I hope to stay within it and continue to create products that originate from local farms and farmers. Creating leather goods has allowed me to do just that and I am so glad I have an opportunity to explain just how cool and important agriculture is, and that is so much more than what others might think.
I am very grateful for those who have supported me thus far. I hope to continue with this business and see where it takes me. Thank you for following along!!
Sincerely,
Rivers Gilkison