Derek Bailey's family moved several times when he was a child. Some of those years were spent near his grandparents in Stanaford, WV. Now a highly successful software engineer, Derek has returned home to West Virginia and loves it. Cue Country Roads!

Welcome, everyone. I first met today's guest at Spruce Meadows in Alberta. I had just arrived at the beautiful and expansive grounds and could not find a single staff member to direct me to Craig's competition tent. Always friendly and eager to help, Alan immediately stood up, and despite being sore from his recent back surgery, led me to where the…

Willie Hylton was a cherished friend, father, grandfather, and decorated soldier. His laughter, storytelling, and impeccably kept lawn were his hallmarks. He adored his riverside home and the visitors it attracted. Join us as we reminisce about his early years. He was a true original Klaus Street Pansy!…

Welcome everyone. Stephen Hill FWCF came highly recommended by many farriers in England while I was there for Stoneleigh. Thanks to an introduction from Jamie Hughes, I was able to sit down with him and do this interview. You will notice this common theme from many of the interviews that I did there, wherein the guests and I go into deep detail abo…

Kathy Zaferatos, a descendant of the Ramey and Michael families, shares cherished memories of her ancestors who diligently worked in retail to support their families. For those fascinated by local history, this interview is a must-listen.

I have run into today's guest several times over the years and unfortunately, our exchanges have always been brief. I was looking forward to getting to know Steffi better at Vern Powell's Puerto Vallarta clinic in Mexico, but I missed one trip and she missed the other. We finally connected at last year's Stoneleigh for long enough to be able to sit…

Jerry shares his experiences about growing up in downtown Beckley, WV. Some considered him a dreamer, but he has had great success in the real estate business and the re-opening of Calacino's Restaurant. He also plays a mean harmonica! It's definitely worth taking a listen!

I met these two characters a couple of years back at my very first Stoneleigh. They played a very key role in all aspects of the competition and Focus. They helped set it up, run it, and tear it down and they stayed until the very last case had been packed up. As you will hear, Sam has a family background in theater production. So he is the reason …

Tony is a man of many talents, having assumed various roles at a young age. Carpenter, locksmith, singer-songwriter, and businessman are among the titles he has earned. Hear him as he presents a selection of his songs, expressing his passion for music and family. Incredible!

Welcome everyone. As you will hear, I met Jim Hayter a few times by this point through my travels across the pond to Stoneleigh, as well as at the World Championships in Calgary. Each time he was accompanied by his son, George. As will become quite clear during the interview, Jim is quite proud of his son and all that he has accomplished. When you …

Mike has worn many hats throughout his career, fearlessly sharing aspects of his life and views on highly controversial topics. You're going to enjoy this interview! Go ahead and click!

I was introduced to this gentleman under the big competition marquee at Stoneleigh. I had just run into one of my friends, Ellie-May Buckland, whose interview is also in the pipeline, and she said, you should meet James. He would make a great interview. So she made the introduction and without hesitation, James agreed to sit down and have a chat. A…

Raleigh County Sheriff Jim Canaday visited Wayne to discuss his early years, influences, and responsibilities in law enforcement. This interview promises to be very informative!

I first met Douwe and his wife Naomi on my first trip to Stoneleigh. He was one of the judges that year and understandably quite busy. So while we made plans to do the interview then, it didn't work out. Last year, however, Douwe was back, but this time as part of the Dutch team and he had a little bit more time, so he made it happen. You'll hear u…

A small tribute to great friends who spent a huge portion of their lives working with the younger generation. Both men worked hard and loved to laugh. Remembering these two brought smiles!

From his beginnings as an Eagle Scout to his extensive career as an educator and coach, Bernard Bostick has interacted with a myriad of personalities. He discusses his choice to pursue the role of Magistrate and his aspirations for the position.

Welcome everyone. I'm trying to recall the first time I met this gentleman. I've known him by reputation for years and unfortunately missed a clinic he had put on up in Ontario here a few years back. Everyone who attended had great things to say, so I suffered a sufficient dose of FOMO from missing that one. I finally managed to catch up with Derek…

Singer-songwriter, teacher, basketball coach, wrestling enthusiast, and music promoter—Matt reveals his story and experiences that many people don't know about. Tune in as he talks about one of his greatest idols and the ways he continues to pay tribute to him! It's an incredible interview!

Join us in celebrating Dave Barksdale's 80th birthday! Tune in to his inaugural interview with Wayne, where he reminisces about his childhood in Beckley: from playing Little League baseball to basketball at Crescent Elementary, and his early idols. Dive in and have a listen—you're sure to enjoy it! Wishing Coach a very Happy Birthday!…

Maris Lowery has been a sports analyst and announcer for more than thirty years. He has stories, lots of stories. Listen as he shares his sports-oriented family and personal experiences. If you like sports, you have to check this out!

Today's guest has played an important role in having me over to Stoneleigh the past couple of years, so I could interview farriers from across the pond, promote the BFBA's Focus Convention, and of course, spend some quality time with my podcast bro, Danny Bennett. As you will hear, Ben is a busy man with a lot of irons in the fire. From his positio…

Nick, a two-time high school state wrestling champion and collegiate national champion, dedicates a significant amount of time to coaching young wrestlers in the area, giving back to the sport. A truly inspiring story! Click on and listen up!

I finally got to meet the legendary Sarah-Mary Brown at this year's International at Stoneleigh. Because he was so busy being the chief steward, Danny Bennett left me in the capable hands of Jamie Hughes to arrange guests and keep the interviews coming. I was listing off my wish list of potential guests to Jamie and when I said Sarah Brown, he stop…

Besides being an elementary school teacher, Sheila, along with her husband Phil, transports dogs from shelters to their new owners. This volunteer loves animals and certainly follows the biblical reference of being a good steward! You will like this interview.

Phil relates a vivid story of his family members and their ties to parts of Southern West Virginia. He incorporates a little romance, a touch of humor, and an abundance of where determination will get you. A must listen!

Today's episode is another one that came out of my visit to the World Championship Blacksmiths competition in Calgary, Alberta. I got to meet Todd for the first time in person while we were both in the periphery of the WCB tent watching as the competitors had their goes. Todd agreed to do an interview and we found a quiet spot up on the balcony of …

Guy Holliday is a community volunteer, businessman and skilled craftsman. He is also a top-rated wrestling official. Listen as he talks about his experience and his future plans. Great Discussion!

Welcome, everyone. This interview comes to you once again from Calgary, Alberta at the World Championship Blacksmith's Competition. As I'm sure you've already gathered, I collected a lot of great interviews from my short visit there. I came home with a memory card full of them and this one is no exception. It is unique, however, in that this is the…

Longtime Shady Spring High School Wrestling Coach, Larry Snuffer shares a little of his early life and how he got to be the coach for the Tigers. Give it a listen!

Gary Vaughan returns to our podcast to talk about his new book, "There's a Meth Head in your Dryer" and his seeking the position of Magistrate in Raleigh County. This is a can't miss interview!

This episode comes out one week after the HoofCare Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio was held. I spent all four days there and it was great getting to catch up with old friends and meeting new ones. This episode, however, was recorded at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta, during the Blacksmith World Championships. Alex was there with a couple of his fell…

Today's interview comes from the World Championships in Calgary, Alberta. I had heard about Chad Lausen for years and was happy to finally meet him in England a couple of years back, preparing for Stoneleigh. He was busy with the team prepping, so we didn't have a chance to do the interview there. After his go in Calgary though, we had some time to…

Kevin Farley is a former football player and wrestler. He has spent most of his adult life working with young athletes from our area. Check out his discussion.

Danny has certainly made an important contribution to Shady Spring Wrestling. Coaching, hunting, and racing motorcycles are just part of his resume. His interview is not only humble but very straight forward. It's a good one!

In this podcast, our guest, James Findler of Langley, British Columbia, shares his expansive career as a farrier with us. From his early days of finding passion in horseshoeing, honing his skills, and competing at world-class levels to mentoring future farriers, James shares his experiences, challenges, and achievements. He also discusses the impor…

Cody Richmond is a former All-American Wrestler at Liberty University. He now owns a successful lawn care business and trains MMA fighters on the side in Lynchburg, VA. Great story!

The second annual Fallen Heroes Wrestling Tourney provided us with some great interviews. Listen as we talk to Williamstown's Tyler and Dalton George, Richwood's Cody Boone, Liberty's Cole Blankenship, Beckley's Logan Brown and Nitro's Charles and Beverly Easter. Fantastic Wrestling People!

Welcome everyone. This episode comes from me a week after getting back from Vern Powell's brainchild, the Farrier Clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This year, yet again, was an incredible experience with meeting many new friends and getting to hang out with old ones. I got another bunch of great interviews done, so stay tuned for those in the new …

Beni Holley is a vibrant and full of life artist. She has spent her career in dog grooming but has delved in the music business in addition to painting and sketching. Listen as she shares her story!

I met today's guest many years ago in the Heartland, when he was practicing quite a bit with Cody Gregory. More recently, I've run into him a bunch, at Stoneleigh, the AFA convention, and in Calgary at the World Championships. Adam was always so busy competing at these events that we never had a chance to sit down and do an interview. Calgary was f…

Jeff has spent 28 years in the military training and preparing for any adversary he might face. Now he shares those tools with young athletes and soon to be adults to help them succeed and contribute to society. Fine Coach and fine Person!

David "Boog" Reed made a stop today to discuss growing up in Piney View, playing football at Woodrow Wison and becoming a major part of athletics at Marshall, Pitt, Miami and Kansas Universities. This is a can't miss interview!

Welcome everyone. A little shopkeeping before we start. Dr. Simon Curtis is hosting his last webinar of the year on December 6th. It's called the Hough Rehab Webinar with Marty Sala and Paige Posse. For tickets to this event, go to www.eventbrite.co.uk and look up the Hoof Rehab Webinar with Dr. Simon Curtis. And don't forget to enter Mullins as th…

James "J.D." Wilson is a talented artist and writer still waiting to be discovered. His books can convey tales of horror or stories that just make you feel good. His road to becoming an author is both inspiring and encouraging! A must listen!

Local businessman, Ardie Jenkins, considers himself to be blessed. Hard work, trial and error, and lots of luck have helped him along the way. He enjoys life spending time with the family, playing golf, and giving back to the community. Fantastic interview!

This episode is being released just a week after I arrived back home from Stoneleigh and Farrier Focus. Once again, England took home first prize but it was incredible to watch the American team come so very close to almost upsetting that victory. Once again, I had a fantastic time hanging out with my podcasting buddy, Danny Bennett, and so many ot…

Joel Harris took over the wrestling team at WVU Tech last season. Since then, the team has doubled in size and added some needed talent. Check out his story!

Beckley Woodrow Wilson's new band director, Marshall Rickman, discusses his job and the direction he's aiming toward. Talented, competitive and humble, "He's the Real Deal." Check out his interview!

Welcome everyone. At Focus last year, Ben Benson, the president of the BFBA, approached me about doing a few panel discussions. I hope in the future to be able to interview both of these gentlemen separately at some point, Marc Jerram BSc (Hons) Grad Dip ELR CJF AWCF Master Farrier and Dr. David Marlin BSc (Hons), PhD. As you will hear, they both h…