Mike Magera (Herriman, Utah)
For this farrier tribute submission, I would like to pay all my thanks to my father Mike Magera for passing on a family tradition that is three generations strong. It all started with my great-grandfather who was a blacksmith and a farrier for the Austrian Calvary before WW, then my grandfather learned the trade as well as breaking horses and herding sheep; one of the coolest pictures I have of him is an old black and white photo when he was in his early '30s training one of his mustangs how to bow!
When my father was born the youngest out of 11 kids he was the only one that loved horses as much as him. Shortly after high school he started picking up clientele while working construction on the side. My grandpa was great friends with Tex Parker and so my dad learned a lot of his skills from one of the originals. My father was one to never stop learning and got his CJF and even was president of the Utah Horseshoer's Guild for five years and was also part of the Board of Directors during the same time.
From hosting blacksmith clinics for Boy Scouts and giving private lessons, giving back has always been his love. Whether its a new farrier getting into the business or a father and son wanting to learn a new hobby together, my dad just loves teaching people and watching them succeed. If there's one reason for my submission is what that man has been through in the last few years and he is still giving back and still driving on.
A few years ago he was forced to retire. He went to work on the hind feet of a new horse he was shoeing one day and when he went to pick up her foot she slammed it down and turned her back to my dad. He went to pick it up again, and she slammed it back down and double barreled my dad in the back. He went to the doctor and was able to walk and wear a brace for a while, though there was not much they could do. Shortly after he go healed up in 2011, I got him a CNC machining job at LAR Firearms building AR uppers and lower receivers. If that wasn't enough, shortly after he was hired on my mother was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myloid Leukemia). She is 7 years cancer free and has been our biggest inspiration in our family. if there's anyone that deserve a huge shoutout and big support its this man. Thank you so much dad for all you have taught me! You made a huge impact in my life and I can't thank you enough for teaching me such an amazing trade!
— Jake Magera (Herriman, Utah)