She Makes Custom Cowboy Hats

She Makes Custom Cowboy Hats FARM HOME Clothes When people order a custom cowboy hat from Kaycee Orr-Hoffman they get a few bonuses Great customer service a purple lining the color of champions a $2 bill tucked in the band to never go broke and the perfect style for the hat owner are all part of the package from her Bar None Hat Company As a Nebraska rancher and the sixth generation of a ranching family Orr-Hoffman knows what cowboys want Nevada cowboys typically wear a buckaroo-style hat while Nebraskans prefer the George Strait-style hat for example Her most popular style is a traditional cowboy hat with a cattleman crease All start with hat blanks she purchases from a Tennessee company The felt ranges from rabbit fur in the lowest price range a blend of rabbit and beaver in the mid-range and all beaver fur on the high end “I block it and there’s a lot of sanding the hair down heating cooling ironing and sewing to get a soft felt finish ” Orr-Hoffman says Following the tradition of two hat-making aunts she started her business 20 years ago and named it after her family’s brand dating back to the 1800’s The process begins with getting the right size either in person at her Thedford Neb hat shop with a conformateur device or online by following measurement instructions on her business webpage Orr-Hoffman also molds the hat according to different head shapes Customers have color options and she keeps the most popular ones black silver belly and natural in stock Many are repeat customers who have two hats a dress hat and a work hat When the work hat gets old the dress hat becomes the work hat and the client orders a new dress hat “It’s a very traditional trade But what’s changed a little bit in the last 10 to 15 years is distressing them to make them look ranch-worn Also hat bands can make a hat look different ” she says Hats range from $400 to $900 and turn-around time is usually 1 1/2 to 2 months Orr-Hoffman’s attention to quality and good service has built a great reputation and word-of-mouth advertising It’s a skill that fits well with ranching with her husband and raising three children To order a hat check out her website or call to set up an appointment in her shop Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bar None Hat Company P O Box 287 39313 Hwy 2 Thedford Neb 69166 ph 970-590-5151; info@barnonehats com; www barnonehats com

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