committees
AFA STANDING COMMITTEES:
Executive Committee
Mission: Responsible for the overall operation of the AFA by working with the AFA office staff and reporting to the AFA Board of Directors.
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
Members: Dick Fanguy, CJF – President, Eric Nygaard, CJF – President-Elect, Steve Sermersheim, CJF – Vice President, Andrew Elsbree, CJF – Immediate Past President, Thomas Gabel, CJF – Secretary, John Blombach, CJF – Treasurer
Achievement Committee
Mission: To publicly recognize special efforts by, for and on behalf of farriers in various areas of activity.
Chairman: Eric Nygaard, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Eric Nygaard, CJF
Members: Jeff Rodriguez, CJF, Garrett Maloney, CJF, Roy Williams, CF, Don Gustafson, CJF
American Farriers Team Committee
Mission: To represent the American Farrier’s Association in national and international competition and to disseminate the knowledge and skill acquired through these competitions to the membership. To represent and promote the American Farrier’s Association at public horse related events.
Chairman: Jim Foy, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Eric Nygaard, CJF
Bylaws Committee
Mission: To assist the Association in implementation of, and prudent revisions to, an effective set of rules to govern the AFA.
Chairman: Tom Trosin, CF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Steve Sermersheim, CJF
Members: Dick Fanguy, CJF, Bill Searle, CJF, Thom Gabel, CJF
Certification Committee
Mission: Conduct AFA Certification examinations.
Chairman: John Voigt, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Dick Fanguy, CJF
Members: Greg Burdette, CJF, Pat Burton, CJF, Andrew Elsbree, CJF, Dave Ferguson, CJF,TE, Dusty Franklin, CJF, Pat Gallahan, CJF, Dennis Manning, CJF, Steve Morris, CJF, Bill Searle, CJF, Ken Lyon, CJF
Communications Committee
Mission: To review the publications of the AFA, including the articles written for the Professional Farrier magazine, for content and consistent message in promoting the Association.
Chairman: Pat Gallahan, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Steve Sermersheim, CJF
Members: Jerry Pulaski, CF, Andy McConnell, CF, Jack Millman, CJF, Steve Sermersheim, CJF
Convention Coordinating Committee
Mission: Plan and organize the AFA Annual Convention. Preview site selections and make recommendations to the BoD for future convention sites.
Chairman: Greg Johnson, CF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Eric Nygaard, CJF
Members: Eric Nygaard, CJF – Co-Chairman, Myron McLane, CJF, Roy Williams, CF, Emily Schwartz-Bull – FIA, Marguerite Paige – FIA, President of Host Chapters
Cultural Exchange Committee
Mission: To select, organize and supervise an international exchange of farriers between the AFA and participating national farriery associations.
Chairman: Vern Powell, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: John Blombach, CJF
Members: Billy Reed, CJF, Todd Walker, CJF, Austin Edens, CJF, Steve Muir, CJF, Dianne Lemmon, CJF, Steve Sermersheim, CJF, Matt Lybeck, CJF
Education Committee
Mission: To develop and implement procedures, study materials and other training programs to aid members and potential members in preparation for AFA certification examinations. The committee will similarly work to educate veterinarians, veterinary students and horse owners to identify and understand correct farrier principles.
Chairman: Billy Lampley, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Dick Fanguy, CJF
Members: Chris Gregory, CJF, FWCF, Mark Milster, CJF, Jim Keith, CJF, Ken Lyon, CJF, Buck McClendon, CJF
Equine Research Committee
Mission: To encourage and develop research which specifically benefits the farrier.
Chairman: Dudley Hurst, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Dick Fanguy, CJF
Finance Committee
Mission: Advise the executive committee on policies of maintenance, intent and distribution of all funds.
Chairman: John Blombach, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: John Blombach, CJF
Members: Dick Fanguy, CJF, Andrew Elsbree, CJF, Bruce Worman, CJF, Alan Larson, CJF, Deb Ash, CF, Mike Miller, CJF
Horse Owner Education
Mission: To develop a program and materials to educate horse owners so that they may recognize and appreciate quality shoeing and hoof care.
Chairman: Buck McClendon, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Steve Sermersheim, CJF
Members: Billy Lampley, CJF, Ryan Clarke, CJF
Membership Committee
Chairman: Temporarily coordinated through the AFA Executive Committee
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: John Blombach, CJF
Member Services Committee
Mission: To develop and enhance the membership benefits and services provided by various vendors through the AFA to its members.
Chairman: Temporarily coordinated through the AFA Executive Committee
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: John Blombach, CJF
Nominations and Elections Committee
Mission: Organize and oversee the administration of AFA elections.
Chairman: Don Gustafson, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Steve Sermersheim, CJF
Members: Jeff Rodriguez, CJF, Ed Zook, CJF, William Johnson, CF
Public Relations/Marketing & Advertising Committee
Mission: To develop and implement a marketing strategy to promote the mission and objectives of the AFA to farriers, horse owners, veterinarians, and the general public.
Chairman: Pat Burton, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Steve Sermersheim, CJF
Pre-Certification Education Committee
Chairman: Ken Lyon, CJF
Office Liaison: Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Dick Fanguy, CJF
Rules Committee
Mission: To make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the establishment and modification of competition rules and be directly responsible for the planning and management of the AFA National Forging and Horseshoeing Competition.
Chairman: Myron McLane, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Eric Nygaard, CJF
Members: Roy Bloom, CJF, Margie-Lee Gustafson, CJF, Bob Pethick, CJF, Troy Price, CJF, Vince Vesely, CJF, Mark Milster, CJF, Austin Edens, CJF.
Sponsorship Committee
Chairman: Temporarily coordinated through the AFA Executive Committee
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton & Ashley Luster
EC Liaison: Eric Nygaard, CJF
Members: Margie Lee Gustafson, CJF, Garrett Maloney, CJF.
Veterinary/Farrier Liaison Committee
Mission: To enhance communications and the working relationship of the farrier and veterinarian for the betterment of the horse.
Chairman: John Suttle, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
EC Liaison: Dick Fanguy, CJF
WEG Committee
Chairman: Dick Fanguy, CJF
Office Liaison: Rachel Heighton
Members: Eric Nygaard, CJF, Steve Sermersheim, CJF, John Blombach, CJF, Thom Gabel, CJF, Rachel Heighton, Danvers Child, CJF, April Raine.