Tim Riley, 26, was born in Michigan, where he has lived his whole life. He graduated from Michigan State University in 2005 with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife and moved to Northern Michigan for work and dogs. He has been a wildlife biologist for the last two years. He began mushing in 2006 and after running dogs in a snowstorm, he began thinking about the Iditarod. He says, "Enjoying dogs and the outdoors made the lifestyle of mushing come natural to me. What started with an innocent purchase of a few dogs to get the wife and I out on the weekends has turned into an obsession and focus on the dogs. Now as our kennel grows and goals rise higher, we have teamed up with the Stielstra's at Nature's Kennel to run our rookie Iditarod. Short term goals have me getting a healthy happy team to Nome. Long term goals have us established as a permanent fixture in long distance mushing." Tim is a member of the Mid Union Sled Haulers and the Michigan Dog Drivers. He is married to Michelle and says he enjoys canoe camping, backpacking and fishing.