HUMAN

Name: STUART NELSON, JR.
Age: 66
Residence: IDAHO AND ALASKA
Occupation: VETERINARIAN
Years involved with Iditarod: 33
Iditarod Role: CHIEF VETERINARIAN
Current Location: NOME, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 14, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

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

WELL, THE IDITAROD IS ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS: OF COURSE, THE DOGS, THEY’RE WONDERFUL ANIMALS. THEY’RE GREAT TO BE WITH. BUT IT’S THE PEOPLE YOU MEET. I HAVE GREAT PERSONNEL ON MY STAFF; WONDERFUL VETERANS. YEAR AFTER YEAR WE SEE EACH OTHER. THE BEAUTY OF THE LAND, IT’S ALASKA WILDERNESS. IT’S A COMBINATION OF THE PEOPLE, THE DOGS, THE LAND. IT’S IDITAROD.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

MANY REWARDING EXPERIENCES. BUT GENERALLY I WOULD SAY, SEEING THE DOGS, TALKING TO THE MUSHERS, HAVING A SUCCESSFUL RACE WHERE EVERYBODY GOES HOME SAFELY.

What do you know for sure?:

WELL, I KNOW THAT WE ALL DIE; THAT OUR CREATOR HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE; THAT WE MUST BE THE BEST STEWARDS OF OUR ANIMAL ATHLETES THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY BE.