Troy West wanted to become a professional rodeo cowboy, but, in 1977, when his brother decided to attend school to learn saddle-building, West went too. Along with making beautiful saddles, his lifelong goal is creating a saddletree that is comfortable to the horse and the rider. He has won Best of Show at the Boot and Saddlemaker Roundup five times, and, in 2014, he received the Will Rogers Award for Saddlemaker of the Year. West said becoming a TCAA member is one of the major highlights of his career — he considers it an honor and a privilege to work with some of the best craftsmen in the world.