Write-in Candidate For President, Craig Trnka, CJF, Edgewood, N.M.

I was urged to run for president of the American Farriers Association (AFA) by members who have great concern for the future of the AFA. Hopefully, in this statement, I can make our concerns known.

My AFA membership began in 1988 when the convention was in Albuquerque, N.M. That was my first contact with continuing education in the 4 years I had been shoeing horses. I have been a member of the AFA for 14 of the 18 years I have been shoeing. During my membership I have had the privilege and honor of being on the American Farrier’s Team. This experience has exposed me to some of the best farriers in the world and turned me into a lifelong student of the trade of farriery.

Since graduating from high school, I have always made my truck and house payments by shoeing horses. I feel a deep respect for any person who has shod horses for most of his or her life and still loves it. My loyalties are with the farriers’ and the horses’ well being.

Many Common Interests

The AFA is made up of people who share a common interest in the trade of farriery. The goal should always be to pursue better craftsmanship and concern for the health of the horse. Three incidents come to mind when I think of the value of the AFA. First, when Dick Becker had his appendix taken out and local farriers shod…