HUMAN

Name: Gregg Kuehnel

Age: 43
Residence: South Florida
Occupation: Small animal veterinarian

Years involved with Iditarod: 3

Iditarod Role: Veterinarian
Current Location: Cripple, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 12, 2020
Temperature: 0F/Outdoors

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I got involved with the Iditarod at the suggestion of my wife when we were visiting Alaska in 2017. She had questioned whether or not veterinarians worked in the race and how to get involved, and she kind of got that thought going inside of my head and helping me get the ball rolling. And probably now, as I go every year, wonders how many more years I’m going to do it and whether or not that was a good thing to ask just a few years ago.

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

I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because a few important reasons. Number one, the animals. As a veterinarian, it’s just great to see these athletes run and be one of a few people to be able to work with them and make sure that they run a healthy race and can make it to Nome. And also for the people. I enjoy the groups of people that we get to meet and the local people of the villages that are just outstanding and welcoming. And then, of course, to just get to Alaska. It’s such a wonderful state with so many places that if we weren’t involved in the Iditarod, we just couldn’t get to.

Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was actually snow machining from Kaltag down to Eagle Island at around eight o’clock in the evening to beat a team coming in. A three and a half, four-hour ride with two veterinarians and a couple of locals from Kaltag that gave us a wonderful trip on a river filled with overflow. But we made it and they were wonderful heroes to get us there. And we were able to beat the team there and do our duties as veterinarians.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that family is everything. Loved ones, relationships, children, this is what brings us happiness. And to cherish family and make time for family and make time for children and spouses is what keeps my life going and my life happy.