HUMAN

Name: Merri Shunk

Age: 59

Residence: Anchorage, Alaska

Occupation: Controller for an Electric Cooperative

Years involved with the Iditarod: 2

Iditarod Roles: Cook

Current Location: Unalakleet, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 14, 2022

Temperature: 0F Outdoors

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

I got involved with the iditarod because of my coworker, who also is a cook in Unalakleet and has been involved in the Iditarod for many years. So I’ve been the cook here in 2018, and now this year.

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because I love Alaska, I love to cook and I love people.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was in 2018 when we had a case of canned pork and beans and no one wants to eat pork and beans. So I made a cake and I just put it out on the table and everyone ate it and said, “Oh, that’s a really great spice cake.” And then they found out it was made with cans of pork and beans. 

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is if you don’t get involved, you’ll never know what happened.