A year ago, Al Smith went on dialysis. Then he experienced depression. Leatherwork brought him out of it.

Nine months later, the Newell man has 10 pieces of leatherwork on display at the leather craft division of the open class entries at the Central States Fair.

Smith's entries are among 43 pieces in the leathercraft division, a big increase over four entries last year. The division, in the Creative Arts Building on the northwest side of the fairgrounds, is being operated this year for the first time by the Dakota Territory Leather Guild.

"They had leatherwork in the past, but it's never been really promoted before," said co-superintendent Jim Fullen of Rapid City. "This year through the Dakota Territory Leather Guild, we've promoted it and got a lot more entries than the fair has ever had."

Fullen is a 30-year-plus leathercraft veteran and has won national contests.

Smith, 63, is a newcomer.

He'd bought a kit and made a leather billfold back in 1983. He put the kit away in the basement and forgot about it.

Then in August 2008, Smith began dialysis treatment related to his diabetes and began feeling depressed. "You think, 'Why me?'" Smith recalled.

His turnaround came in the middle of a dark December night. "About 3 in the morning, it came to me that kit was down in the basement," he said Friday as he helped staff the leatherwork booth at the fair.

He started doing leatherwork and discovered he had a knack for it.

"It was a gift from God that came to me," Smith said. "It pulled me out of a depression that I wasn't sure I was going to come out of."

Fullen said Smith's work has improved greatly in just a few months.

Besides Smith's leatherwork, the exhibit includes purses, a rifle scabbard, leather art, chaps, chinks, pictures and billfolds, and a saddle made by Wes Mastic from Bader Saddles, which won best of show at the annual Trappings of Texas show in Alpine, Texas, this year.

Fullen said the leatherwork division has some open categories that he had hoped to attract entries for, including black powder pouches, re-enactor apparel, Native American dress and mountain man-era items.

The judge for the show is Chan Geer of Sheridan, Wyo., a former winner of the Al Stohlman Award, a national award given to just one person each year for outstanding leathercraft work.

Fullen said the Dakota Territory Leather Guild, which started in January 2008, now has more than 20 members.

Besides the leatherwork division, open class entries look strong across the board, according to Kadee Hande, Central States Fair open class coordinator.

Entries are up in classes including photography, fine arts and horticulture, Handee said.

But there are plenty of exhibits to look at in other divisions, too, including china painting, spinning and weaving, culinary, wine, tole painting, quilts, ceramics, models and painting.

There are 125 entries in the literary division, matching last year's record, said Jim Miller, literary superintendent.

The horticulture building has many more 4-H entries than in past years, according to NanCee Maynard, co-superintendent.

Among the horticulture exhibitors is 6-year-old Justice Forster of Black Hawk, who is showing for his second year.

Justice entered peas, cucumbers and dill plus several types of flowers, including cosmos, marigolds and golden glow.

Justice said he got interested in flowers because "I just like them. They're pretty and stuff. And they smell good."

Justice said his parents, Renee and Brian Forster of Black Hawk, told him what is required to raise good flowers: "Sunshine, water and love."

How to join

The Dakota Territory Leather Guild is trying to recruit new, younger members to replace the older members.

"They better hurry," said member Jim Fullen of Rapid City.

For more information, call the guild president, Rick West at 390-3398 or Clay Miller at Tandy Leather Factory in Rapid City at 342-2221.

Contact Steve Miller at 394-8415 or steve.miller@rapidcityjournal.com