HUMAN

Name: MIDDY JOHNSON
Age: 52
Residence: UNALAKLEET, ALASKA
Occupation: OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR OUR REGIONAL NORTON SOUND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY
Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE 2010
Iditarod Role: HEAD PANCAKE COOK
Current Location: UNALAKLEEET, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 11, 2019
Temperature: 32F / OUTDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

I THINK I’M HERE JUST BECAUSE WE LIKE TO SHOW OUR HOSPITALITY IN THE COMMUNITY. AND AFTER RUNNING THE RACE AND GETTING SOME IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THE MUSHERS, THE FANS, THE LOCALS AND BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, IS WHERE I DECIDED TO STEP IN.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

PROBABLY THE MOST MEMORABLE, MY SON WAS MAYBE 5 AND WE’D FOLLOWED THE IDITAROD IN THE TRACTOR AND EVERYBODY. AND HE WAS MOST EXCITED TO WATCH THE LAST-PLACE MUSHER GET IN TO UNAKALEET. IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING. YOU KNOW, NOBODY WAS LEFT AT THE CHECKPOINT HARDLY. IT’S USUALLY LOCKED UP. AND HE WAS LIKE, “DAD! WE GOT TO GET UP! WE GOT TO GO!” SO THAT WAS PRETTY MEMORABLE.

What do you know for sure?:

I KNOW I’M PROBABLY ALWAYS GOING TO LIVE IN RURAL ALASKA. I KNOW I’M GOING TO TAKE MY GRANDKIDS HUNTING AND TAKE THEM FISHING AND SHOW THEM TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO THAT WE ENJOY AND JUST BE A HAPPY FAMILY.