We're so excited to see what you've been working on!
Please be sure to complete all sections of the registration form so we can properly tag and display your entry.
You may enter up to three (3) items per category.
Each entry must be "New" and made in the current calendar year (2026).
Each entry must have its own separate registration form.
Items can be entered in previous competitions held during the 2026 calendar year.
Saddles, Chaps, Bags & BeltsRegistration Deadline: Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Novice Class is for leathercrafters who have been working in the industry, as a hobbyist or full-time artisan, for less than 5 years.
Open Class is for all leathercrafters.
Awards The Northwest Leather Masters Competition Awards Ceremony will be held at 3pm on Saturday, November 7th in the Pendleton Convention Center.
Each registered tradeshow attendee will cast one vote towards the People’s Choice Award which will be awarded a prize package.
Privacy Policy
Rules
Eligible for entry: batwing, shotgun, chinks, woolies, vaquero, rodeo, queen, armitas, charmitas, farrier.
Chaps made during a training or in a school environment are NOT allowed.
Constructed of leather only.
Collaborations of two makers is acceptable.
Must be functional and ready to wear.
Judging Criteria Open
Judging Criteria Novice
Eligible for entry: purse or other carrier to be worn on the body or carried in the hand by a man or woman, with or without a strap, and designed to carry/hold personal articles or money; briefcases are an acceptable entry.
Constructed of at least 75% leather, excluding lining.
Eligible for entry: any style saddle tree, any style rigging,
makers mark, logo, brand, serial number visible and normally used by saddlemaker.
Eligible for entry (NOT SCORED): roughout, smoothout, and combination roughout/smoothout, metal conchos and hardware, brand or initial on horn, cantle or fender, bucking rolls, full or partial lining/stitching on saddle, beadline, tooling on all parts of saddle, smoothout saddle strings, inlays/overlays.
Used saddles will be allowed at the judges' discretion.
Saddles made during a training or in a school environment are not allowed.
Saddles must be made by a single individual.
Saddle must be functional and ready to ride.
Pendleton Leather Show will provide a saddle stand for each entry.
Eligible for entry: any style everyday belt - tooled, untooled, lined, unlined, stitched, laced.
No wider than 1 3/4 inches.
Belts made during a training or in a school are not allowed.
Belts must be made by a single individual.
Must be functional and ready to wear (including a buckle).
Online entries are open from Friday, May 1st - Wednesday, November 4th.
Competition Location: Roy Raley Room, 1601 West Gate, Pendleton, OR
Entries must be fully registered by the deadline to be eligible for judging and voting.
Judging
· Two judges will independently and separately score each entry based on a universal score sheet.
· Judges can move an entry into a more appropriate category at their discretion.
· Judging will take place in the Roy Raley Room on Thursday, November 5th starting at 9am.
· All contestants will receive their score sheets via email after the show.
· All judges' decisions are final.
Drop Off
· Drop off entries on Wednesday, November 4th from 9am-5pm.
· Entries must be at the ROY RALEY ROOM by 5pm Wednesday, November 4th for judging and will remain on display until 5pm Saturday, November 7th.
Shipping
· If shipping your entry, please ship to:
Pendleton Convention Center
Illume Competition
1601 Westgate
Pendleton, OR 97801
Please note: If your competition entry does not arrive before end of day on Wednesday November 4th, it will not be eligible for judging.
If you will not be present to pick up your entry on Saturday, November 7th at 5pm, please include a RETURN SHIPPING LABEL and any special instructions.
Items for Sale
· Entries can be for sale during the competition.
· Contestants are responsible for all sales.
· Pendleton Leather Show will not take any sales commission.
Please make sure you understand the rules and guidelines as entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Also be sure to STUDY THE JUDGING SHEET for a full understanding of what will be judged in the competition.
We reserve the right to refuse any entry that does not meet competition guidelines — this helps us keep the event fair and running smoothly for everyone.
Thank you for being part of this year's Northwest Leather Masters Competition. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
