DIAMOND SPRINGS, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2026) — A group of students from Independence High School recently got a hands-on lesson in leather working and small business operations at Buckaroo Leather Products in Diamond Springs.
The visit on Thursday brought students from the El Dorado Union High School District’s Independence High School campus — an alternative continuation high school serving grades 9–12 in Diamond Springs — into a working leather shop to learn directly from an experienced craftsman. Independence High School provides flexible, smaller-classroom settings designed to support students through customized academic programming and career exploration.
At the leather shop, owner John Brand welcomed students and shared his passion for handcrafted leather goods, demonstrating how items such as saddles, chaps and reins are meticulously crafted by hand. Established in 1979 by John and his father, Buckaroo Leather has a longstanding reputation for producing durable, American-made equestrian tack and leather products — utilizing high-quality American-tanned leather and sustaining traditional craftsmanship.
“Seeing how a small business operates and being able to create something with my own hands really opened my eyes to what it takes to be both an artist and an entrepreneur,”
said one participating student, reflecting on the visit.
Students also had the opportunity to create souvenir leather keychains using donated leather strips and key rings, giving them a tangible product they designed themselves and reinforcing lessons about creative process, precision and patience.
School administrators thanked Brand and his team for hosting the visit, emphasizing the value of connecting classroom learning with real-world skills that can inspire future careers in trades, design and business.
About the organizations in this story:
• Independence High School is a continuation high school in the El Dorado Union High School District that focuses on individualized instruction to help students meet academic and career goals.
• Buckaroo Leather Products is a family-owned leather goods and tack maker in Diamond Springs known for handmade equestrian products and custom leatherwork.
