Laddan Ledbetter grew up in Midland without a traditional ranching background, but his early years in his father’s welding shop, Rabbit’s Welding, sparked a deep interest in metalwork. From a young age, he helped with jobs both in the shop and out in the field, developing the same passion for fabrication his father carried. At nine years old, he was introduced to junior rodeo and quickly traded his skateboard for riding steers, beginning a 20-year journey in bull riding that immersed him in western culture.

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Alongside his time in the rodeo arena, Laddan was shaped by his mother’s artistic influence. Her encouragement to create and embrace individuality helped him see metalwork as more than a trade but an art form as well. As his rodeo career began to wind down, friends encouraged him to pursue engraving and silversmithing. In 2009, he built his first piece at Squaw Creek Silver and soon after began learning engraving, gathering tools, and seeking guidance from experienced craftsmen who helped him grow his skills.

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Realizing his strengths, Laddan shifted his focus to buckles and western jewelry, refining his work through true silversmithing techniques while staying rooted in western tradition. Now based in Christoval, he continues to create distinctive, handcrafted pieces. Alongside his craft, he takes pride in raising his two children and serving his community through his work with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, blending creativity, craftsmanship, and a lifelong connection to the western way of life.

 

Ladled999@gmail.com Instagram @ladled