A few years back I started to look for a good pair of leather boots and stumbled upon Nicks Handmade Boots in Washington. They are known for their craftsmanship and attention to detail, making each pair by hand, as demonstrated in their online videos.
They source their leather from U.S. tanneries like Horween Leather Company, Wickett & Craig and Seidel Tanning which in turn source their hides (a by-product of the beef industry) from farms and ranches in the United States.
At first, the price tag gave me pause, but I took a gamble and bought a pair on my birthday as a gift to myself. It turned out to be a good decision. They've been great to wear and after having a pair in your hands, you get a sense of why they cost what they do. Quality costs money. Especially if you want to actually support the United States, American Farmers, and American owned businesses.
I've a big interest in processes, how things are made, and what connects things (and us) together in this world. Below is a simple flowchart of the leather boot making process at a high level. Obviously there are more connections and loops than what can be shown in one chart but this gives a visual sense of just how much is involved to get a pair of quality handmade leather boots onto your feet.
I'm not affiliated with Nicks. Just appreciate quality and it's an interesting topic to research.