A Wauneta native is expanding his thriving custom leatherworking business and moving from his home near Curtis into a storefront in that town.
    Tyler Kerchal, a 2007 Wauneta-Palisade graduate, has opened Kerchal Leatherworks.
    Kerchal formerly owned a similar shop in Imperial before moving to Curtis a couple of years ago. “Within the last month, I guess, I had an opportunity to move my shop from home into town here,” he said.
    His aim, he said, is “just to really make a go of it and be able to do it full-time, and get it out in front of people and let them know hey, I’m here, this is what I can do for you.”
    He makes everything from knife sheaths to belts, notebooks and portfolios, does special orders and also repairs saddles. He’s hoping to eventually get into making saddles.
    Some of those special orders can be a bit unusual. He’s currently working on Christmas stockings made of leather and cowhide. “It’s a cowboy thing, but they’re turning out super-cool,” Kerchal said. “Those different projects, that makes it fun.”
    He said that when it comes to special work, he’s up for anything. “I’ll try to give it my best. I like a good challenge once in a while.”To read the full storyy, subscribe to the e-edition online or call the Breeze at 308-394-5389 to subscribe to the print edition.