After School Special with Butch Whitaker, CJF

Sam and I have been friends for over twenty years. He has been to the Heartland several times, but this time he returns as an AFA Examiner for our annual exam. We talk about where he's been and where he's going, and it all involves the horse. It is a great conversation that you will enjoy getting to listen to. We are cleared for takeoff.

This is a solo podcast with some of my thoughts and personal history about this great trade of farriery. https://www.skool.com/farriery-mastery-chris-gregory/about

John Bartosh is a local businessman, horseman, entrepreneur, and all around great guy that I was able to sit down with and visit about the world he built around him. He owned a trash service, a sale barn, built Lucky J arena and steakhouse, and has been the Jasper County Presiding Commissioner for twenty years. The Jasper County Highway Department just named their new facilities in his honor. John has done a lot of things in his life, and we had a very enjoyable conversation, even though the Missouri heat was making us sweat. Enjoy getting to know John. We are cleared for takeoff.

Mike Kelley is an honest, God-loving, conservative local former Representative that has a heart for his fellow man and community. I enjoyed getting to know him better as we sat down and talked about his time in Jeff City. It is very refreshing to talk to and know about people who do the job Mike did for the right reasons, and left their office with the same values they went in with. It restores your hope in humanity. Enjoy my visit with Mike.

Veterinarians James and Theresa Brown are a couple from Australia that have lived an amazing life. They raised a hard-working and talented young man that came to the Heartland, which led to their visit. Once I got to meet them, I knew you had to hear their story, so I convinced the to sit down with me and give some insights into helping horses, raising kids, and moving through this world. They have a lot of great insights to share. We are cleared for takeoff.

Cody and I were eating late in a restaurant in the outskirts of London, and we struck up a conversation with the folks at the table next to us. An interesting conversation led to an early morning interview with John Piepenbrink. An Air Force veteran who had an amazing career and got to do some interesting things for America. We sat down in the hotel's executive lounge and had a neat time getting to know John and his story, and you are invited to listen in. We are cleared for takeoff.

Lee is an Irish farrier that shoes show jumpers.  He is the head of the Northern Irish Farrier Association, and has done a lot to bring the industry forward.  Lee was instrumental in bringing Cody and I to Ireland, and we had a great time sitting down with him in his wife's tackroom and hearing his story.  We are cleared for takeoff.

Cody and I made a trip to England and Ireland, and it gave me the chance to spend some time with a lot of old friends and make some new ones. Alwyn is an AWCF farrier and educator, and his wife Erica is the driving force behind Crossan Forge and Farrier Supply in Lisburn, Ireland. They hosted a day of Cody's clinic, showcasing organizing and hospitality skills that are off the charts. Theirs is an inspirational story and we had a lot of fun together. It was a great conversation that you are invited to. We are cleared for takeoff.

Butch Whitaker, CJF, is the owner of Oregon Horseshoeing School. He has a great way about him, and we have a good time sitting down and finding out a little about each other's school. Butch is a farrier educator, wrestler, cowboy, sometimes farmworker, and drives a Tesla. This was a great visit. We are cleared for takeoff.

Getting to meet Avi required a special set of circumstances, and it was fantastic to sit down with someone with such an interesting history. Son of Jewish refugees from the work camps in northern Africa, a history in Isreali intelligence, history professor, Messianic Christian missionary, and now running trade school programs in Sweden, Avi has seen some life. He has some great stories and insights, and you are going to enjoy our conversation. We are cleared for takeoff.