Farrier Industry Association Newsletter

Farrier Industry Association
2201 Regency Road
Ste #704
Lexington, KY 40503

Staff Contacts
Executive Director:
Martha Jones

Member Services Manager: Margie Brangers

www.farrierindustry.org

2025 Board of Directors

President: Rob Michel
Vice President: Eric Nygaard
Secretary: Audrie Salsbury
Treasurer: John Harshbarger
Past President: Mark Hickcox
Member: Erin Baayen
Member: Bobby Salsbury
Member:  Stacie Beall

Member: Torri Broadus

Happy New Year FIA Members!

2024 just flew by and what a great year it was!  Now we have entered 2025, which I think is going to be even better!  My granddaughter turns three this month, which is hard to believe.  We had loads of fun during the holidays making crafts and baking cookies together.  I am still finding sprinkles all over the kitchen!  

We have already begun discussions concerning the MarketPlace, which is scheduled for March, 2026.  We will keep you posted on any changes.  It is our goal to always improve the MarketPlace event!  Please let me know if you have any thoughts for improving this event!

The AFA convention will be in Little Rock, Arkansas, March 16-20, 2026.  Mark your calendars so you don't overbook that week!

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

January 2025

Hello FIA Membership,

I hope you all had an amazing Holiday and Welcome to the New Year! If you are not familiar with who I am, please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Robert Michel, and I am the Fourth Generation Owner & Operator of Oleo Acres Farrier & Blacksmith Supply in Colorado. I have been on the board around 7 years and have had the pleasure of serving with some amazing individuals. We have an excellent board moving into 2025 and our goal is to make the FIA Great Again! Every year we try to bring more benefits to our membership, and we have huge plans for 2025 & 2026.

As you may not be aware there is no AFA Convention in 2025 as the Convention will be transitioning back to spring and will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas March 16-20, 2026. Since there is no MarketPlace to attend in 2025 the board has decided to have a Business Meeting in Nashville, TN in June 2025.

The Amazing Margie and Martha are currently scouting out some excellent and affordable hotels for hosting the Business Conference. Our goal with the conference is to have a healthy mix of Fun, Networking, and Education. Once the hotel is secured, we will announce the exact weekend in June, with the location and hotel details. We plan on having another panel discussion and would love to hear from you regarding any questions or topics you would like us to discuss.

I would also like to take a moment to thank Mark Hickcox for his leadership and work as our former President. I am excited to welcome Stacie Beall with G. E. Forge & Tool to the board and look forward to everything this board can accomplish for our members this year.

I am a big believer in listening to the membership and I really appreciate any comments and suggestions on how to improve the FIA and MarketPlace, please feel free to contact me via email or call me at (303) 979-0446.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you all in Nashville this June.

Robert Michel

Oleo Acres Farrier & Blacksmith Supply

It is time to renew your FIA membership!  You should have received an invoice in your email AND also an invoice by snail mail by now.  Renew now to take advantage of the entire year of FIA benefits.

We are so very, very fortunate for all of          our members. 

Thank you to all of you for supporting us!

Welcome back to our renewed members as of December 31, 2024.

American Farrier Systems -  L. Thomas Heiser

American Farriers Journal - Jeff Cota

Amsterdam Farrier Supply, LLC - Jonas Glick

Bassoli Fratelli - Giorgio Bassoli

Buddy Aprons - Jessica Pittman

Centaur Forge LLC - Bekki Baas

Cody Gregory LLC - Cody Gregory

Crossroads Farrier Supply - Anita Leckie

Diamond Farrier Co. - Edward Szymanski

Double B One, Inc. - Cathy or Russ Wiegers

Doug Butler Enterprises, Inc. - Jacob Butler

EasyCare, Inc. - Dan Schroeder

Farrier Product Distribution Inc. - Dan Burke

Farrier Science Clinic - Phyllis Peacock

Hanton Horseshoes - Victoria Broadus

J.B. Aluminum Bar Shoe Co. - John Koeger

Ken Davis & Sons, Inc. - Gina or Brian Davis

Keratex Equine Hoofcare - Sebastian Red

Keystone Leather/R.A.T.E. Company - Matt Schall

Marechalerie Bromont Inc. - Cynthia Roy

Montana Farrier Supply - Susan Thomas

NC Tool Co., Inc. - Rene Aldridge

New Farm Farrier Supply - Eric & Julie Nygaard

Oleo Acres Farrier & Blacksmith Supply - Rob Michel

Overland Farrier Supply - Carol Gilbert

Rafter V. Farrier Tool Rebuilds and Farrier Supply - Traci and Jerry von Kaenel

Tennessee Farrier Supply - Steve Edwards

Texas Farrier Supply - Chuck Milne

The Shoein' Shop - Lee Green

The Victory Racing Plate Co. - Mark Hickcox

Visby Products Farrier Supplies - Jeff Gartner

Western Saddlery - Frank Wipfli

If you know of a company that you think might be interested in becoming a member of our Association, please send them this application:  2025 FIA Membership Form.docx

2025 Board of Directors Contact Information 

Rob Michel, President - Oleo Acres Farrier & Blacksmith Supply - (303) 979-0446 - oafarriersupply@outlook.com

Eric Nygaard, Vice President - New Farm Farrier Supply - (941) 377-7775 - newfarm2@aol.com

Audrie Salsbury, Secretary - Canoga Farrier Supply - (818) 702-6375 - canogafs@yahoo.com

John Harshbarger, Treasurer - Well-Shod - (806) 322-3680 - john@well-shod.com

Erin Baayen, Member - Rusty Brown Jewelry - (951) 290-1423 - erin@rustybrownshines.com

Bobby Salsbury, Member - Canoga Farrier Supply - (818) 702-6375 - canogafs@yahoo.com

Torri Broadus, Member - Hanton Horseshoes - (502) 321-6619 - info@broadlinefarriersolutions.com

Stacie Beall, Member - G.E. Forge & Tool - (805) 489-1111x100 - stacie@geforge.com

Mark Hickcox, Immediate Past President - Victory - (239) 682-7773 - jmhickcox@victoryracingplate.com

Don't hesitate to reach out to your Board of Director members.  They would love to hear from you!

March 16-20, 2026

My uncle named his dogs Timex and Rolex. They're his watch dogs.

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