BACK IN 1986, some 20 suppliers to the farrier business banded together to organize the Farrier Industry Association. Over the past two decades, the goal of this St. Louis, Mo., based supplier trade group has been to provide continuing education to farrier product manufacturers, distributors and farrier shop owners who are developing and marketing new products to meet your ever-changing footcare needs.

Today, the Farrier Industry Association has grown to over 200 supplier members. “There were probably 20 original members as not every supplier to the industry felt that they wanted to be a member at the start,” recalls Loet van der Linden of Delta Horseshoes and Delta Hoof Care Products in Rocklin, Calif.

More Effective Communication

“FIA got its start when several suppliers felt that vendors should be more involved in the management of the American Farrier’s Association trade show,” says Scott Colson of Scott Colson’s Shop in Clinton, Miss., who was the first FIA president. “We wanted to have some input on how the AFA trade show…