Hi Boys and Girls,
The Musher Banquet was held last night at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. What a fun night!!! This is a time for all the mushers, their families, friends and fans to get together before the race start. I bet you’re wondering what they do at this banquet. There’s entertainment provided by Hobo Jim. Everyone mingles around talking and getting autographs. The fans just love doing that! Then everyone sits down to a fabulous meal. After the meal is served, the mushers are called to the stage in the order they signed up. They then pick their starting bib number. After they select their number, the mushers each give a short speech usually thanking their families and sponsors.
A few other things take place at the Banquet. This years honorary musher is long time Iditarod employee Joanne Potts. Joanne has worked for the Iditarod for 40 years. She will wear bib number 1.
Also all the table decorations are made by school children all over the United States. Maybe your class made some of the decorations. Everyone did a great job and the tables looked fantastic.
If you would like to see what position your musher will start the race in, you can go to this site to find out:

http://d3r6t1k4mqz5i.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/3.3.16_Iditarod_Musher-Start-Order-FINAL-1.pdf?094216

Tomorrow’s the day. Iditarod 2016 starts in Anchorage. Hope you’re as excited as I am!
Happy Trails,
Gypsy

Pictures by Jeff Schultz