Ramey Smyth, 43, was born and raised in Alaska. He is the son of Iditarod mushers Bud Smyth, who raced in the first Iditarod and the late Lolly Medley who raced in the second Iditarod. Ramey has lived all over the state but says he moved to Willow to put down roots and build a home for his family. Ramey has raced the Iditarod 26 times placing in the top 10 ten times. He won the Kuskokwim 300 in 1995 and has raced in, and won, many other events throughout the state. He began mushing “as soon as I could walk” and won the Jr. Iditarod twice before his first Iditarod in 1994. He is a full time log home builder and owns and operates Smyth Logwork and Construction in Willow. He says, “I am entering the Iditarod to test myself and give my dogs a chance to run and compete. I race to encourage people to donate to cancer research and to drug and alcohol free lifestyle. I would like to thank my friends, family and sponsors who have loyally supported my racing endeavors. Ramey operates Smyth Racing Team-Homestretch Kennel, which is 70 dogs strong, with his wife Becca Moore and their children, daughter Ava 12 years old, son Banyan 8 years and baby Coral,2. Ramey says his hobbies are “hunting, fishing, soccer and boxing.”