Vickie Millett of Norway trims extra thread Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston during the first step to making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Vickie Millett of Norway sews trim Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston during the first step to making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. “Whatever they need me to do,” Millett said about her position at the family-owned business in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Nathalie Mbombo makes the tongue Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston during the early stages to making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Cathy Wilbur of Vassalboro sews the tongue to the quarter Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston during the early stages to making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Cathy Wilbur of Vassalboro sews the tongue to the quarter Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston during the early stages to making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Kim Bellanceau of Lewiston sews the lining to the upper Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston during the early stages to making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

U.S. Paralympic Team badges are displayed Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. The Winter Games in Beijing, China, will be the third Olympics that Rancourt & Co. employees have made shoes and boots for the U.S. team. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Mamie Kabulo moved to Auburn from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is one 41 employees that work at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston, the third-generation shoemaking company. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

A men’s boot is warmed Tuesday during the lasting process at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. Men on Team USA will wear white boots while women athletes will wear red boots. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Mike Oliver of Farmington operates a lasting machine Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston while making the boots that Team USA will wear during the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China. Lasting is the process of cementing the upper to the innersole, said Oliver, who has been a shoemaker for over 40 years. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

The upper is cemented to the innersole during the lasting process Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Laurie Michaud of Turner applies glue Tuesday to the bottom of the boot upper at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. The glue is the first step of attaching the boot sole. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Laurie Michaud of Turner applies glue Tuesday to the bottom of the boot upper at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. The glue is the first step of attaching the boot sole. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

A boot sole is warmed in an oven before being placed onto the bottom of an Olympian’s boot Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston.. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Jeff Hanscom of Lewiston uses a power tool that secures the sole to the bottom of boot Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Jeff Hanscom of Lewiston transfers two pairs of nearly finished boots from one cart to another Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Linda Dulac of Auburn stops working on a pair of Rancourt & Co. men’s shoes Tuesday to help finish two pairs of Team USA boots at the Lewiston shop. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Linda Dulac of Auburn looks for any loose threads before adding the laces Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. “I have been following Mike around for a long time,” Dulac said about working for company owner, Mike Rancourt. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Memos posted and Rancourt & Co. remind employees what size footbed and laces to use. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Employees of Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston craft the footwear for Ralph Lauren’s official Team USA ceremony uniform. Rancourt has made footwear for the 2016 and 2021 summer Olympics and the upcoming 2022 winter Olympics. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Marc Labbe grabs a box Tuesday while packing up a pair of Olympian’s boots at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Finished boots for women, left, and men, right, wait to be boxed Tuesday at Rancourt & Co. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal