A trio of young farriers who have made exceptional professional progress within 3 years of graduating from farrier school was honored at the 19th annual International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio

Payden Talbott of Pulaski, Wis., Elise Umstead of Prince George, Va., and Benjamin Haar of Utica, N.Y., were recognized as the 2022 recipients of the Rising Shoeing Star Award. Each winner received a plaque, a 1-year subscription to American Farriers Journal, the AFJ “Kitchen Sink” package (a footcare library with more than 3,500 pages of reference material) and free registration to the Summit. In addition, the first-place winner receives $1,000 and the two runners-up each receive $500. The schools that produced the three winners also received plaques and copies of the Kitchen Sink package.

The award, which was created in 2009, is co-sponsored by Adeptus Nutrition Inc., American Farriers Journal, Pyranha and Texas Farrier Supply.

Payden Talbott

A 2018 graduate of Heartland Horseshoeing School in Lamar, Mo., Payden Talbott had a long history with horses in his home state of Montana. He brought horsemanship skills to the forefront as he developed into a skilled horseman.

During the intern break in July, Talbott spent the month with 2011 Rising Shoeing Star award-winner Joe Nygren. The Pulaski, Wis., farrier liked him so much that he helped Talbott set up his hoof-care practice when his studies were completed.

Talbott serves as the vice president of the Wisconsin Farriers Association and is in the process of pursuing the skills needed for…