Photos by Terri Watts

Seventy five years ago Jerry Franklin, a saddle maker by trade, left the Visalia Saddle Co. and moved to Oregon.

25 years later, Jerry Franklin met and became friends with Bub Warren and in 1974, Jerry sold the Franklin Saddle Co. to Bub.

Between the two of them they have over 72 years of experience in saddle making, Jerry with 20 years of experience and Bub presently in his 52nd year. Between the two of them they have made approximately 1500 saddles.

Skilled in the leather trade, Bub Warren recently relocated to the Burns area and opened Franklin Saddle Co., (now known as Sweet Grass Leather) at 29 W. Washington, a leather shop for cowboy and saddle gear. Unfortunately though, Bub is no longer taking saddle orders.

Bub had planned to retire in Bend but a friend, Terry Russell, talked him into opening shop in Burns instead.

Terry previously made ladies purses and bags in Bub’s shop and was the one who had selected the name “Sweet Grass Leather” but unfortunately Terry is no longer a part of the Franklin Saddle Co. or Sweet Grass Leather. but out of respect for the lady, Terry Russell, who urged and convinced Bub to come out of retirement, Bub has decided to continue to use Sweet Grass Leather as his businesses name

With Burns being the heart of cow country Bub feels opening his business here has been a good decision for him, especially when he takes into consideration just how many cowboys and cowgirls reside in Harney County.

Bub presently has eight custom saddles that line the front section of his business which he encourages locals to stop by and see. These saddles are the last saddles made by Bub with Bub stating he has no intentions of making any saddles in the future, “These are the last ones.”

Bub encourages anybody with the time and inclination to stop by the store to do just that mentioning “I might even have some coffee on for visitors.”

In closing, Bud mentions that he and Jerry have both made saddles for famous people but says that the working cowboy straddling their rigs is why they made the quality saddles that they are known for making.

Franklin Saddle Co. a.k.a. Sweet Grass Leather is open six days a week, sometimes seven, generally between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., at 29 West Washington in Burns. 

Bub says he is looking forward to meeting and greeting all those who venture in to see him and his leather work.