Fresno '79, Reno'14

The sun peeked over the Sierras on a late winter morning in 1979 and began to light up California's San Joaquin Valley. The city of Fresno was waking to a new day. Lee Liles hopped out of an RV parked in a hotel parking area. He yawned and stretched, looking like a Norse God, and then headed off waving a friendly hello to an awestruck young man and lovely young lady passing by.

Later in the afternoon Lee Green, wearing a pair of eggshell white loafers, gave a demonstration on practical shoeing.

Randy Luikart was there, so were Reuel Darling and many others.

Next day Doug Butler and Vern Smith were judging the competition while Jay Sharp worked with a pipe clenched in his teeth. At the other end of the arena two gentlemen from back east, Steve Kraus and Bruce Daniels hammered away.

That was at the American Farriers Convention 34 years ago.

Craig Trnka was in his early teens.

Grant Moon was in his late teens.

James Blurton was in his early twenties.

Mr.'s Blurton, Moon and Trnka will be demonstrating at the 2014 Convention in Reno, Nevada.

 If you have interesting impressions of previous conventions, or your first convention to share

 E-mail Tom DuBois at:

trdpbny@frontiernet.net

Maybe we can use them.