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,

Are you all packed and ready to head to Chattanooga?  I am so looking forward to seeing many of you there!  We have a great group of MarketPlace exhibitors this year and are looking forward to an awesome show.  We so appreciate each of you who are exhibiting and also those who support the companies who are exhibiting.  Also, I wanted to remind those of you who so graciously volunteered to donate gift certificates or products to the very popular raffle held for registered farrier attendees during the MarketPlace hours to bring those items with you to Chattanooga.  You can drop off your donations when you are picking up your MarketPlace exhibitor packet at the Chattanooga Convention Center - Rooms 18 & 19.  Your support of this raffle is greatly appreciated.  Safe travels everyone! 

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

November 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.

NOVEMBER IS HERE!! We will all be in Chattanooga, TN on November 11-15 for AFA Convention/FIA MarketPlace. It’s the 53^rd annual AFA Convention folks, and it just might be the largest ever! We had over 650 farriers pre-registered before the end of October, and you can count the number of booths (out of 130 total) that we didn’t sell on one hand. These are numbers that haven’t been seen before.

As I’ve written in previous newsletters, this is going to be the biggest farrier event east of the Mississippi for at least the next 3 years, and it checks all of the boxes. Competition, Education, Trade Show, Annual Awards Dinner, and more! How cool is it that our association is fun and our peers are fun to be around? Plus, the event is in a cool place like Chattanooga, TN.  We are so looking forward to all of it!

Speaking of Chattanooga, on Wednesday November 13, the AFA has arranged two tour opportunities for you and/or your spouse to enjoy. The ART+HISTORY+FOOD TOUR is one choice and the other is a PRIVATE COCKTAIL MAKING CLASS. The sign-up link for either (or both) is on the American Farrier’s Association FaceBook page. Also, restaurants in the area are already accepting reservations. www.visitchattanooga.com has every restaurant option and handy links for menus and reservations.

BOD Meeting Highlights and FIA things to know:

• COME ON DOWN! Tuesday, November 12, on the big stage, is FIA FARRIER FAMILY FEUD sponsored by Rusty Brown Jewelry! For the second year, 4 teams of “farrier industry family” members will test their trivia knowledge and entertain YOU!!
• The FIA Business Conference and Member Meeting will be Thursday November 14 from Noon to 1:30pm. If you are new to FIA MarketPlace this year, come have lunch on us, and learn a little bit more about the Farrier Industry Association. Suppliers and manufacturers will be answering timely questions on the topic of “The farrier industry and technology”, during our panel discussion. Contact FIA Margie to register!
• FIA Member Weekend in June 2025…YES! Come to the FIA Member Meeting in Chattanooga for more information. Planning is happening!
• EQUUS TV is your online location for the equestrian lifestyle all around the world. Diana De Rosa will be back for her second AFA Convention/FIA MarketPlace in Chattanooga. She is great at interviewing and the EQUUS TV coverage will help promote our industry to the masses.
• THE AFA AND FIA ARE NOT WORKING WITH A THIRD PARTY TO BOOK HOTEL ROOMS IN CHATTANOOGA!!! Please book your hotel room through the host hotel within the room block. If you are contacted by anyone about hotel rooms, it is a scammer.

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

FIA MarketPlace Exhibitors as of October 31, 2024

A "SPECIAL" Thank you to these FIA MarketPlace Sponsors!

AFA Auction Donation Request Letter

2024 AFA Grand Finale and Live & Silent Auction

Chattanooga, TN

I am writing to you on behalf of the American Farriers Association, to request a donation from your business for a Live and Silent Auction at our upcoming 53^rd Annual Convention in Chattanooga, TN.  I appreciate your willingness to support our event and our fundraising efforts to support the diverse programs the AFA offers to support our industry.

The proceeds from our Live and Silent Auction provide continued support to the membership through the Jim Linzy Fund, Equine Research Fund, Certification Program, Bruce Daniels Scholarship, American Farriers Team, Cultural Exchange Program, and the General Fund– day-to-day operating expenses. To learn more about these programs, please visit our website at www.americanfarriers.org.

Please consider supporting our event by donating merchandise, services, or gift certificates by filling out the enclosed “Auction Donation” form and return it with your donation to the AFA Registration desk located in the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga. 

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the AFA office at 859.233.7411 or info@americanfarriers.org. 

In order for your item(s) to be included in the auction, they need to be received in Chattanooga by Wednesday, November 13. 

We thank you in advance for your consideration of this request and for helping the dedicated farriers in our industry continue to advance their skills. 

Sincerely,

Margie Lee-Gustafson

AFA Auction Committee

2024 Auction Donation Form.doc

I hope you have the opportunity to spend quality time with your friends and family during the holiday season! We are given a whole day to be able to look back and count our blessings and reflect on what we are thankful for.  And, we get to eat good food, of course!  Happy Thanksgiving!

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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