People from a five-state area will be in Augusta this weekend to take advantage of what has become an annual sale.
Located in the Augusta Industrial Park, Hunn Leather takes tanned sides and creates almost every type of leather good imaginable. Whether customers are looking for a $20 checkbook cover or a $10,000 custom made saddle, they can find it at Hunn Leather.
The business has changed in the 26 years the Hunns have been in business in Augusta, but their products haven't.
"We get a lot of business from Wichita and a lot from ranchers in the Flint Hills," Matt Hunn said. "But we sell to Texas, Oklahoma, and even some European countries."
Hunn said the business used to focus on wholesaling saddles and leather goods, but overseas competition made that market difficult to compete in. So they have begun to focus more on retail sales and custom built items made entirely in their own shop.
"It can be kind of a badge of honor for guys at ranch rodeos to have one of our saddles," Hunn said. But custom saddles aren't just for competitive cowboys. The rancher who will spend most of his day on a horse also wants a well-made, comfortable saddle.
The company has eight employees. The newest employee has been in the business for five years. Tomy White has worked at Hunn Leather for more than 19 years.
White cuts the sides of leather into usable pieces. He has amassed quite a collection of brands - which survive the tanning process and have to be cut out of the sides before the leather can be used - over the years.
Matt and his wife Jenny work together running the store.
When his father started the business, Matt didn't see himself taking over.
"When I was in high school, I didn't really want to," Matt said. "But now I can't see myself doing anything else."
In addition to manufacturing and custom-building leather goods, Hunn also has a full-time employee - Juan Miranda, an employee with 15 years of experience - who does nothing but repairs on leather items.
"We stay pretty busy," Matt said. "But on rainy days, it gets crazy."
Hunn Leather is a hidden treasure in the Augusta economic community, but they'll be bringing a lot of business to town this weekend.