 |
American Farriers
Convention
Craig Trnka, a well-known competitive farrier from New Mexico, was elected president of the American Farrier's Association at the Lexington, Kentucky convention. He ran as a write-in candidate, and received 56% of the vote. New York state farrier Andrew Ellsbree received 39.4% of the vote. Of 2,763 ballots sent out to members, 37 percent were returned, according to elections coordinator Don Gustafson of California. A total of 995 countable votes were tallied by the election committee with observors representing the interests of individual candidates.
"I'm really jacked up. It will be a lot of fun," Trnka assured the crowd at the general membership meeting when the announcement was made. Among Trnka's first acts as president was requesting that Massachusetts farrier Myron McLane stay on as rules committee chairman for the AFA's competitions. All AFA committee chairmans' terms expired at the convention. Outgoing president Emil Carre of California wished Trnka success.
Texas farrier David
Edens was elected treasurer, replacing Nebraska farrier Greg Johnson,
whose term limit was reached. AFA Convention registration total for 2002 was 980, according to executive director John McCutchen.
New education program announced for AFA certification program AFA education committee chair Mitch Taylor announced that a new national training seminar system for AFA certification testing will be implemented in the near future. In the past, only 15 - 20 percent of applicants passed the certification tests; Taylor hopes to raise the percentage considerably by offering applicants two-day seminars complete with training manuals.
Walt Taylor Makes Impassioned Plea Founding AFA President Walt Taylor of New Mexico launched an impassioned plea to the AFA's officers at the end of the general membership meeting. Stating that he was speaking on behalf of a group of "senior AFA members" with collective farrier knowledge totalling several thousand years, Taylor was pleased when his backers rose in the audience to show their support. Taylor asked that the AFA consider its older, experienced members as a resource for future convention programs.
American Farriers Team will "practice in public" in 2002 AFT coordinator Roy Bloom announced that the 2002 American Farriers Team will conduct public practice sessions for the horse-owning public. The first program will be in April 2002, at the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio.
AFA kicks off next election with early nominations Jack Millman of Massachusetts and Bob Earle of Arizona were nominated for the office of AFA vice president at the general membership meeting.
Three new chapters join AFA Board of Directors Chapters from Maine, Wyoming, and Eastern Idaho will become the newest chapters of the American Farriers Association this year.
So you wanted to meet Seattle Slew.. Sorry, not this trip. Everyone's favorite Triple Crown winner was recovering at Lexington's Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital following a second "basket procedure" surgery to the vertebrae in his neck. He'll be back at Three Chimneys Farm in another week or so. To learn more about Seattle Slew's condition on this 25th year anniversary of his Triple Crown win, watch for daily reports on www.bloodhorse.com To listen to a radio interview with surgeon Dr Barrie Grant, visit www.npr.org and click on search archives and "All Things Considered" for February 28, 2002.
Tiznow caps bring Super Bowl to the AFA Convention WinStar Farm in Versailles, home of two-time Breeders Cup Classic winner Tiznow, is in the midst of introducing Tiznow to his new profession, being a breeding stallion. WinStar graciously donated a little souvenir shrine about Tiznow's role in the New England Patriots' Super Bowl victory last month. University of Minnesota veterinarian Tracy Turner was the highest bider for the memorabilia, and went home wearing one of the coveted Tiznow "For the Patriot in All of Us" caps and lugging a framed poster detailing Tiznow's career.
Texas farrier tops the competition in a big way... Austin Edens of Texas, only 23 years old, won five of the six contests at the American Farrier's Association convention and took the top spot on the 2002 American Farriers Team. A popular addition to the team for this year is long-time farrier Dick Becker of Michigan, who is probably the oldest team member by about 20 years. A complete list of team members will follow.
No one blinked: 2002 Anatomy Lab a World-Class Event
Click
here to view some of the discussion leaders (all volunteers, including
Allie, by the way) in action.
© 2002 Hoofcare & Lameness |
Craig
Trnka elected AFA President
Allie
Hayes of Horsescience Hoof Models assembled an all-star cast of
veterinarians, farriers, and even a therapist to lead hands-on discussions
of normal and abnormal hoof anatomy, using a truckload of models.