Farrier Industry Association Newsletter

Farrier Industry Association
2201 Regency Road, Suite 704
Lexington, KY 40503

Staff Contacts
Executive Director:
Martha Jones

Member Services Manager: Margie Brangers

www.farrierindustry.org

2024 Board of Directors

President: Mark Hickcox
Vice President: Eric Nygaard
Secretary: Audrie Salsbury
Treasurer: John Harshbarger
Past President: Chuck Milne
Member: Erin Baayen
Member: Bobby Salsbury
Member:  Rob Michel Member:  Torri Broadus

Hello FIA Members,

I hope you enjoyed a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to spending more time with your family and friends at Christmas!  My little granddaughter is looking forward to her visit from "Ho Ho".  Her wish list is pretty short.  She loves to take drives and look at all the holiday lights.  She is easy to please at almost 3 years old.  

The Convention in Chattanooga was so much fun!  Getting to meet many of you in person is my favorite part!  Re-connecting with those from past years and having the opportunity to catch up is great too.  We are blessed to be part of such a great industry!  Thank you to our MarketPlace exhibitors and sponsors!  You helped make the convention a great success!  Mark your calendars for the next convention to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, on March 16-20, 2026.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time via email or call/text me at (502) 779-1522 if you need my assistance.

FIA Progress – President’s View

December 2024

FARRIER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION - Mission Statement: The mission of the FIA is to provide companies in the hoof care industry with programs and services which will strengthen and grow their businesses.

It’s the AFTERGLOW. Another AFA Convention/FIA MarketPlace is in the books! As I said several times, Chattanooga 2024 will be the “high water mark” for years to come. Not only for AFA attendance numbers, FIA vendor numbers, but also for the smooth sailing during the week in general. We had very few “hiccups” and issues that were not immediately resolved. My hat is off to Adam Fahr CJF and his committee on the AFA side, Jared Brown CJF and Rachel Millard CJF representing our SAFA hosts, Martha Jones and Margie Brangers and the rest of the office/registration crew, and the FIA BOD for staying involved with all aspects of our largest week in action. Countless compliments were given by my farrier friends and customers that this year was the best Convention/MarketPlace that they can remember. I agree.

My personal Top 5 highlights from the week:

1)     Dusty Franklin CJF AWCF ASF shared the love of Jesus Christ with over 200 at Friday morning church service and 2 men were baptized in the lecture hall.

2)     Nigel Fennel CJF FWCF (hons) shared a fraction of the incredible data that his FWCF study contains. Spoiler alert, it’s amazing!

3)     Spending Monday afternoon behind the AFA/FIA registration counter as everyone began showing up for the week.

4)     Traffic was constant during MarketPlace hours, high attendance in the lecture hall, massive numbers of spectators and competitors in the competition hall.

5)     Overflowing numbers for the FIA member meeting lunch and business panel on Thursday. The panel was super informative!

Little Rock, AR 2026 - Here we come!!

BOD Highlights and FIA things to know:

• Thank you! 2024 FIA member MarketPlace sponsors and for the Business Member Meeting Lunch and Panel Discussion sponsors. Bassoli, Creative Equine Solutions, Dufour Forge, Farrier Product Distribution, KB Horseshoes Inc., Hanton Horseshoes, Indian Creek Forge, Kahn Forge, Keystone Leather, Montana Farrier Supply, The Shoein’ Shop, Stockhoff’s Horseshoes and Supplies, Stonewell Bodies, Texas Farrier Supply.
• FIA Member Weekend in June 2025…YES! We are planning a June 2025 FIA Member Business Meeting Weekend. Stay tuned!!
• EQUUS TV was back for a second AFA Convention/FIA MarketPlace in Chattanooga. EQUUS TV coverage is great and it will help promote our industry to the masses. Check it out on the EQUUS TV app or online at www.equustelevision.com.

The next FIA BOD meeting is on December 4, 2024.

Visit www.farrierindustry.org for the FIA current events and latest updates!

Mark Hickcox CF

jmhickcox@victoryracingplate.com

For the second year in a row, Farrier Family Feud took center stage at the convention.  In case you missed the announcement, Praise Dale was the winning team this year!  The winning team included Mike Poe, CJF, AWCF, Travis Smith, CJF, Daniel Jones, CJF, Hank Chisholm, CJF, Travis Burns, MSc, CJF, TE, EE, FWCF (captain).  Rusty Brown Jewelry sponsored prizes for the winning team.  A great time was had by everyone who participated! 

The FIA Business Conference & Membership meeting was very well attended.  The event was held November 14, 2024, moderated by Rob Michel of Oleo Acres Blacksmith & Farrier Supply, hosted a panel of industry experts in the retail and manufacturing side of our business.  The topic of discussion during this meeting was “How Technology has Changed your Business and How you Capitalize on it”.

The panel included:  Remco van der Linden (Kahn Forge), John Harshbarger (Well-Shod), John McNerney (Yukon Forge), Bobby Salsbury (Canoga Farrier Supply), Ed Szymanski (FPD), Conrad Trow (Grand Circuit & Breeders Supply), Rob Logsdon (Mustad), Chris Leija (Werkman USA/Pathfinder Farrier Products)

Those in attendance at the FIA Business Conference & Membership meeting were also able to watch as Josh Garner of G.E. Forge & Tool accepted the Hall of Legends Award on behalf of his grandparents, Walt and Beth Garner.  The Farrier Industry Association’s Hall of Legends honors and celebrates the outstanding achievements of its members.  Through their commitment, leadership, sacrifice and dedication, these members have achieved significant accomplishments within the farrier industry and have brought pride and distinction to both our association and the farrier industry.

Stacie Beall of G. E. Forge & Tool was introduced as the newest member of the FIA Board of Directors.  Rob Michel of Oleo Acres Blacksmith & Farrier Supply is the newly elected President of the FIA.  

It is that time of year again!  Please check your inbox and mailbox for your FIA membership renewal invoice!  We sincerely appreciate your membership and look forward to a great 2025!

Farrier Industry Association Address:  2201 Regency Road, Suite 704, Lexington, KY  40503.  We have received several pieces of mail recently addressed to an old address.  Please update your records.  Thanks!!

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