World Championship Blacksmiths Crown Chris Madrid its Champion

The World Championship Blacksmiths wrapped up its 15th season by crowning a familiar name as its national champion in early December in Fort Worth, Texas.

Stanley, N.M., farrier Chris Madrid, CJF, captured his second consecutive national championship.

Other noteworthy accomplishments include:

• National runner-up — Robert Jukes, CF, of Weatherford,
  Texas.
• Sandbox Finishing Systems Novice champion —
  Daniel Gunderson, CF, of Rockwall, Texas.
• Category 1 champion — Mason Mileski, CF, of Farr West, Utah.
• Category 2 champion — Jessica Melvin, CJF, of Asbury, N.J.
• Category 3 champion — Matt Hull, CJF, of Stony Point, N.C.
• Novice Matchplay champion — Charlie Sayer, CF, of Junction City, Ore.
• Jim Blurton Matchplay and Liberty Live Shoeing champion — Chris Madrid, CJF, of Stanley, N.M.
• American Farriers Journal Most Improved Competitor — Steve Lowry, CJF, of Conover, N.C.
• Fingerlakes MFG Striker of the Year — Sawyer Spradling, CJF, of Lone Oak, Texas.

American Farrier’s Association Celebrates 50 Years

The American Farrier’s Association (AFA) celebrated its 50th anniversary at its mid-November convention in Arlington, Texas.

The winners of the 2021 National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition were:

• Ben Mangan, CJF, of Carthage, N.Y., won the Open Journeyman Class, Open Roadster Class, National High Point Winner and Overall High Point Winner.
• Bodie Trnka, CJF, of Jordan, Minn., won the Open Specialty Forging Class, the North American Capewell Challenge Cup Live Shoeing Finals and Reserve National High Point Winner.
• …