After School Special with Butch Whitaker, CJF

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.

Timmy and Elin were two of the four farrier educators from the Lerums Vuxenutbildning school in Sweden that came to the Heartland to see how we teach our students to shoe horses. We had a great time sharing ideas and learning more about their culture, and this conversation gives you a peak into what it means to be a farrier and live in Sweden. Turns out horses have feet all over the world. We are cleared for takeoff.

Dustin Smith has a gift for gab and we have a great conversation with a lot of fun stories and inspirational take aways. You'll be hungry for an Ozark Natural Steak by the time you get done with this one. Sit back and enjoy, we are cleared for takeoff.

Pedro Pechar is one of my great friends from Argentina. He came to the Heartland in 1996, our second year in business. From there, he returned to Argentina and has had a massive influence in the farrier industry. I got to sit down with him at Emilio Gionnotti's amazing place in Sierra de los Padres when Kelly and I were down there doing a clinic and FITS Exam. Let me introduce you to Patagonia Pedro. We are cleared for takeoff.

Andrew DeVisser plays a lot of roles.  Christian, husband, father, farrier, manufacturer, and author, Andrew has a lot of insights and thoughts on living your best life.  This episode has the added advantage of Cody Gregory helping me to bring the story to light, and we have a great coversation.  Thanks for joining us, and I hope you enjoy it.  We are cleared for takeoff.  

Robbie and I first met over two decades ago in the Big Top at the World Champion Blacksmith Competition at the great Calgary Stampede.  We have forged a friendship over our passion for the farrier trade and horses, and it is fantastic to share some of that history with you.  Robbie has overcome more than most, and his story of coming up in the world is inspirational and fantastic.  We also talk about how Robbie looks at a foot for trimming and a tool that he's developed to help that.  Sit back and enjoy, we are cleared for takeoff.