I’m the silversmith behind Sarah Smith Silver and co-owner of NonPareil Ranch and Trading Company. I’m a wife, mother, rancher, and silversmith—with a deep love for family, tradition, and craftsmanship.

In the summer of 1989, just after graduating early from high school, I saw an ad for a silversmithing class at Miller Bit & Spur in Nampa, Idaho. I headed north to take it—and I was hooked. I loved everything about the process. Not long after, I returned home, met and married my husband Jack, a talented saddle maker, and we began building a life around our trades, our family, and the ranching way of life.

We’ve raised two kids—Nicole and Jared—on our six-generation cow-calf operation in the foothills of California’s southern Sierra Nevada. I was blessed to homeschool them and stay active in 4-H, where we showed cattle and market goats. Today, both of them work alongside us on the ranch, along with my mom and dad, my sister, and her husband. I’m endlessly proud of how hard our family works to help feed America.

As for silver, I’ve continued to learn and grow in this craft for over 30 years. I was fortunate to attend one of Jeremiah Watt’s very first engraving classes in Elko back in the early ’90s. Since then, I’ve studied under master engravers Diane Scalese and Ernie Marsh and been lucky to have local goldsmiths help me troubleshoot projects along the way. I’m also a proud member of the Cowgirl Legacy Group, a group of women silversmiths that gathers each year at the GRS Training Center to share, learn, and carry forward the traditions of the West. I believe you’re never too old to learn and plan to keep improving every chance I get.

In 2024, Jack and I started NonPareil Ranch and Trading Company—a place where we teach silversmithing, leathercrafting, and ranch skills in a hands-on, real-world way. Whether it's a weekend campout, a silver class, or just time spent horseback in rough country, everything we offer is grounded in the traditions we live by.

I’m excited to share some of my work with you here. Above, you’ll find just a few of the many pieces I’ve made. If you don’t see exactly what you're looking for, feel free to reach out. Custom orders are open year-round, and I’d love to visit with you about creating something truly one-of-a-kind—made just for you and your style.

Thank you again for being here.

Warmly,

Sarah Smith