American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Hall of Fame farrier Roy Bloom, CJF, APF-I, of Drummond, Wis., drills a rivet hole in a shoe during the 2024 International Hoof-Care Summit Trade Show. Image: Mike Lessiter
This year marks the 50th anniversary (and 32nd year at Lessiter Media) of American Farriers Journal covering the farrier trade. We’re asking hoof-care professionals for a few words to include in a “From the Audience” section of our coverage – in the December edition.
American Farriers Journal Brand Manager Joanne Volkert shares her thoughts on working with the hoof-care industry as part of AFJ's 50th anniversary.
In my 12 years working with Lessiter Media, I’ve had the pleasure to work with each of our eight publications — American Farriers Journal, No-Till Farmer, Strip-Till Farmer, Cover Crop Strategies, Farm Equipment, Precision Farming Dealer, Rural Lifestyle Dealer and Ag Equipment Intelligence. My role allows me to talk with members of each audience, assisting with subscription questions, coordinating material requests for farrier clinics or ag field days and taking dozens of conference and Summit registrations over the phone.
I’ve worked with ag and farrier schools, associations and groups all with ultimately the same mission as us — educating the hoof care, conservation ag and farm equipment dealer industries.
What stands out most that I’ve come to admire and appreciate are the remarkably hardworking, dedicated men and women who make up the farrier industry.
The farrier industry is a unique blend of polite, blunt professionalism and feisty, hard-headed determination. Farriers are tasked with navigating what can be at times complex relationships between horse owners, trainers and veterinarians, sometimes needing to offer strong opinions on hoof care and…