President, Andrew Elsbree, CJF

Greenville, N.Y.

I am running for president of our association and I’m writing this statement so that you all may be informed of what I believe our priorities should be for the next 2 years.

I have had my own farrier business since 1977. I started out shoeing backyard horses then moved on to work with Standardbred racehorses for the next 5 years.

This truly was an enlightening experience. I enjoyed the sport and working closely with other professionals. Soon an opportunity presented itself that allowed me to work with Saddlebred show horses and I found my niche. I currently shoe performance horses and love it.

I became interested in AFA certification and, after several attempts, managed to pass the AFA Certified Journeyman test in 1996. This was one of the most educational experiences of my professional career and it left me with a deep desire to stay involved.

I became an AFA approved tester in 1997 and was appointed an examiner in 1999. This has allowed me to help others achieve what has been so beneficial to me. I know that I could not have gotten to this point without help from AFA members and I feel that it is important to make these opportunities available to all members of AFA.

When Jeff Rodriguez and I were both nominated for president at the Kansas City meeting, I was encouraged about the future of the AFA, knowing that whichever one of us became the next president…