Hi Boys and Girls,

The Musher Banquet was held Thursday night at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. This banquet is for all the mushers, their families, friends and fans to come together before the start of the race. Fans are able to walk around and talk with their favorite musher and get autographs! During this time, Hobo Jim provides the entertainment. Then everyone enjoys a delicious meal. After the meal is served, the mushers are called to the stage in the order they signed up. They pick their starting bib number out of a boot. After selecting their race position, the mushers each give a short speech thanking their families and sponsors If you would like to see what position your favorite musher will start in, just go to this site:

iditarod.com/race/2017/mushers/list

Each year, an honorary musher is picked and is given Bib#1. This years honorary musher is Rod Udd was the owner of Anchorage Chyrsler Dodge. He was a long time sponsor of the race and presented a new Ram truck to each years winner.

I have to give a shout out to the beautiful table centerpieces this year. Did you know that all of the table decorations are made by school children? Maybe you and your class made some of the decorations.

Well it’s just about that time!!! RACE TIME!!! I can hardly wait.

See you on the trail,

Gypsy