While researching wallets made in the USA several years ago, we came across a beautiful handmade wallet manufacturer making wallets out of full-grain bison leather – that is, The Buffalo Billfold Company. They have an amazing story of intentionality, genuine connection with their customers and the people that matter most, and handcrafting wonderful leather goods that stand the test of time.
After years of featuring them on AllAmerican.org, we finally got Bill and Lauri Keitel (the husband and wife founders) to share their journey with us. Below, Bill’s narrative is marked with a “BK” next to it. We hope you enjoy their American made story as much as we did!
The Buffalo Billfold Company Story: A Leather Legacy Made in the USA
AAO: Give us a look inside the history of The Buffalo Billfold Company. How did y’all grow up into the company you are today?
BK: We are made in the USA, prairie to product. That’s not just a line we dreamed up for a billboard. It’s the north star we’ve followed since 1972—hand-tooling leather the way your granddad might’ve done it, right here in Worthington, Minnesota. We’re not in the business of shortcuts. We’re in the business of stitching stories into every wallet, every bag, every belt. With twelve of us working side-by-side in a brick building on the prairie, we’re still doing what we started out to do: make something honest, useful, and lasting.
Roots in the Prairie
BK: I was raised in Luverne, Minnesota, among a family of optometrists. But I preferred strings to spectacles—spent more time with my guitar than a Snellen chart. After years of playing music and teaching lessons, I found myself in Worthington. I started working at a shoe repair shop, fixing worn-out soles and learning what kind of leather could stand the test of time.
My wife, Lauri, and I opened a little leather shop in the basement of the old Citizens National Bank building. We called it “The Cow’s Outside”—a wink and a nod to our trade. It was no palace. Just a 10×10 corner where we made belts and wallets out of cowhide. But folks came. Farmers, teachers, mechanics—people who needed things that worked and lasted.
We added more space, more goods, and a bit more light. We stuck around through tough times, kept the lights on however we could. I even got a real estate license to help pay the bills. But I never set down the leather tools for long.
The Bison Breakthrough
BK: Eventually, a friend out West suggested we try bison leather. At the time, most folks thought it was too rough, too unpredictable. The hides were often tossed aside. But I saw beauty in its scars—strength in its wildness. And I ventured that others might see this too.
We worked with tanneries across the U.S., developing formulas that made the leather supple without losing that bison toughness. We didn’t hide the imperfections. We leaned into them. Each hide had a story to tell, and we let it speak. Our yield went down, but our quality—and character—went way up. We were a trailblazer of the nation’s bison leather industry.
Today, our bison leather is some of the finest you’ll find anywhere. It’s strong, it’s American, and it’s part of our Prairie to Product philosophy. We still source hides from ranchers we know by name, and we’re proud members of the National and Minnesota Bison Associations.
And then, after years of working with this incredible material, Lauri and I figured—why not raise a few ourselves? So we founded the Dakota Sweet Grass Bison Ranch. Tucked into a corner of South Dakota just below Ted Turner’s spread, it’s probably one of the smallest bison operations in the country. We picked up some fine heifers at the Denver Stock Show and turned them loose on native prairie. They eat well, roam free, and live as nature intended. It’s a full-circle effort—stitching our values into the land as well as the leather.
Smithsonian-Recognized Craftsmanship
BK: Somewhere along the trail, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History caught wind of our work. They sought us out, looking for an American leathersmith to showcase at their gift shop. They were looking for a leathersmith to recognize as part of the American story —a leathersmith who actually handcrafted their leather goods entirely in the USA. We were honored—and frankly, a bit surprised. We’re just doing what we’ve always done: good work, by hand, in the heart of the country.
We were also featured in Bison World Magazine, which praised our decades of dedication to elevating bison leather and honoring the animal. That kind of recognition means a lot. But we still get the most joy when someone writes to say, “I’ve used this wallet every day for 20 years.”
Built by Hand, Built to Last
BK: You won’t find conveyor belts or giant machines in our shop. What you will find is a team of people who take their time. We cut, stitch, edge, and burnish every piece like we’re making it for a friend. Because we are.
Our full-grain bison leather gets better with age, like a good pair of boots. We design with utility in mind—pockets where they belong, stitching that doesn’t quit, and a finish that stands up to a hard day’s work. Some items, like our leather flight bag, are still made entirely by hand. We choose the hides ourselves, panel by panel, making sure every piece of that bag has a purpose.
From the Road to the People
BK: For the better part of thirty years, Lauri and I packed up our wares and hit the road. We traveled from Milwaukee to Tucson, showing our goods at art festivals and Native markets. Sometimes we were the only non-Native vendors invited, a gesture that humbled us.
We met people who’d become lifelong customers—and friends. We played music with fellow artists, fixed each other’s rigs, and swapped stories under desert stars. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was rich in spirit. We wore through a few tires, a few guitars, and more than a few coffee pots.
But it made us who we are.
Meet the Products From The Buffalo Billfold Company
BK: Here are five of our most asked-for creations.
Buffalo Leather Bifold Wallet
BK: Our old reliable. This one’s seen the inside of more back pockets than we can count. Wears in, not out.
Buffalo Leather Trifold Wallet
BK: If you like a trifold, this one’s for you. It’ll hold your ID and more.
Leather Money Clip Wallet
BK: For the folks who like to travel light. It’s slim, strong, and mighty fine looking.
Women’s Slim Leather Wallet
BK: Graceful and built to last—just like the women who carry it.
Dakota Buffalo Leather Purse
BK: Rugged elegance in a crossbody strap. No lining, no fluff—just leather that holds its own.
These are just a few of our most well-loved creations—favorites we keep making because folks keep asking for them, year after year. But if you wander over to our website, you’ll find a whole prairie’s worth of other handcrafted goods, each with its own charm. And if you’re ever passing through Worthington and find your boots crossing our doorstep, you might just spot a one-of-a-kind piece on the shelf—something we only made once, when the leather and the day just happened to agree. Like any good story, not everything we make sticks around, so best grab it when you see it.
The Future of Made in America
AAO: What gets you excited about the future of The Buffalo Billfold Company? Where are you headed?
BK: These days, we’ve handed off the reins to the next generation—our kids, who’ve grown up with stitching awls in their pockets and code running through their veins. They’re smart, grounded, and just as committed to doing things right.
We’re still making everything here in Worthington. Still using the same tools, the same bench, and the same bar of beeswax. But now we’re also reaching more folks through our website and storytelling. We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re just trying to be the best—for the long haul.
A Legacy in Every Stitch
BK: We’ve spent half a century building this thing—cutting, stitching, laughing, packing, and starting over again. We’ve tanned leather, tuned guitars, sold wallets in blizzards, and raised bison in the dust. And we’ve done it all with the belief that good work matters.
We’re living proof that you can build something real in America—something small, strong, and full of heart. No need for overseas factories or gimmicks. Just steady hands and a bit of grit.
As I like to say: “We’ve never forgotten the most important part of this journey: our customers, and the craftspeople who make it all possible.”
Thanks so much to Bill and the entire team at The Buffalo Billfold Company for sharing your story! We hope it inspires more American makers and wish y’all the best of luck going forward.
