I posted this before but didn't get any feedback, maybe put it in wrong place. I am now thinking about my first convention in Lexington www.afaconvention.com told me alot about it as did an email I received from the President Elect of AFA. Can anyone share any experiences? Is it worth the trip and investment?
Thanks, Frank

Convention has always proved a worthwhile time for me. Some have been better than others, but the Lexington ones have always been first rate.

edited to add: As many of you know, I have not always been a strong advocate of "all things AFA" and have not been bashful about saying so. That said, I just want to reiterate that Convention is a major gem in the AFA's crown of jewels. If you cannot find something there that will help you, encourage you, and even, inspire you, then you're at a different convention than the one's I attend. There are many conferences available throughout the year, but if I had to choose only two, the AFA Convention would be one of those.

So, If you're still undecided, I hope you'll choose to join us in Lexington this year. Look me up and say hi. I'm usually very easy to find.

See you in Kentucky!!

I went to my first 30 years ago, have only missed a half dozen or so since.

I suppose it will come as no great surprise to those who've listened to me toot the AFA Convention horn before, but I'm a huge fan of the AFA annual gathering.

Over the years, I've learned a ton at convention from basic and traditional to insightful and revolutionary.... In fact, Eric DeSoccio and I are currently having a bit of a disagreement about what should be presented at convention . He feels that we should be promoting the "AFA way" and so do I, but we've got a disagreement on what constitutes the AFA way.

My experience through the years has been that the AFA and the convention are about promoting the five basic tenets of the association, and one of those is Innovation. That's what I've seen from Burney Chapman introducing ways of addressing founder and laminitis, to Tony Gonzales presenting his ideas on Proper Balance Movement, to Gene Ovnicek speaking to issues of Natural Balance... Denoir speaking about hocks, Edward Martin on shoeing the Clydesdale, and so forth.

In that same mix, we've seen Doug Butler, Shayne Carter, Jim Quick, and others--like Craig Trnka--promoting and doing an awesome job of working with more traditional approaches.

This year, we'll see folks like Scott Morrison, Mitch Taylor, Mark Milster, Al Kane, and plenty more--some presenting traditional approaches and some questioning traditional approaches.... I'm looking forward to it as always!

Lexington will be my 33rd consecutative AFA convention.
Steve Kraus

Due to a combination of family commitments and buisiness commitments I will, very regretfully, be unable to attend this year's convention. My wife and I attended the ones in Rochester and in Chattanooga.

IMO, Worth every penny at twice the cost.

OTOH, my father is only going to have ONE 90th birthday party. I'll be thinking about you folks in Lexington, while I'm enjoying the weather in . . . FLORIDA! :D

Danvers, it isn't easy disagreeing with you as you are THE eloquent farrier and you have always brought me down to earth when I go on a rant.

I do look forward to meeting everyone there. I look forward to John McNerney's "Tool Maintenance" and Tom Trosin's "How Not to Run a Farrier Business"

Danvers, as you are the eloquent farrier, I tote myself as the "tell it like it is, call a spade a spade farrier". I have an ad in the local Bridle & Bit paper which reads, Eric DeSocio CF, expensive, cocky, relative know it all and usually on time.

EDeSocio wrote:Interesting that your ad says nothing about farriery.

Well, I do have in there Hand made shoes. It is in the farrier part of the directory so I don't figure I have to tell people that I am a shoer when I am in that area, have an anvil in the logo. Besides, why be like all the other farriers that are in the sea of sameness putting "certified farrier" (none of which are in the afa) or gentle, responsible, reliable. I wanted to be different. I wanted to be TRUTHFUL! Ah ha ha ha
My business cards don't say I am a farrier either. Just the picture of my hands wringing the nail off of the hoof.

Trying to register for Convention online, can't get website to work. Anyone else have trouble?

Curious.
I heard vendors were disappointed by the turn out....Any truth to the rumor of substaintial decrease in membership?
I ran into a farrier on the way to my sister's house in NC...getting diesel...we chatted a few...he sounded disappointed....disgusted, really.

This was my #4 conv. I would give it an average rating.I miss the B.Pethick lectures and other talks by farriers of that caliber. Im not knocking those who have the courage to share . However there is nothing better than a before and after shoeing lecture, that actually demonstrates what works and why.