Although it will be winter, you won’t need a jacket once you’ve reached either of the host hotels for the upcoming American Farriers Association convention in Rochester, N.Y.

The lectures, trade show and contest will be held in one building, which is connected to the two hotels by enclosed walkways. The hotels are also connected to Midtown Plaza for convenient shopping without stepping outside. Of course, if the temperature climbs into the 60s as it did during the 1998 Rochester convention, you may want to go outside.

Attendees will have plenty of convention activities to choose from, including the major lectures, with short-subject lectures as alternatives. The contest will be held in the same building as the lectures.

Details and registration information will be available later this summer.

The program will include something new this year. Per Bruce Daniels’ suggestion, a Jack Benny Class will be offered for competitors age 60 or older.

This will not be part of the regular shoeing competition, but held after the shoemaking classes are finished on Thursday. It will be a fun yet practical class that requires making only one pair of shoes — a hind shoe, creased with a square toe, clips and heels. There will be no prize money and no entry fee, but a trophy will be awarded. Watch for…