HUMAN

Name: Tonya Stephens

Age: 45

Residence: Paradise, TX

Occupation: I am a veterinarian

Years involved with Iditarod: I have been involved with Iditarod since 2015.

Iditarod Roles: Veterinarian.

Current Location: Yentna Station, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 6, 2022

Temperature: 31 F Outdoors 

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

I first became involved with Iditarod after speaking at a national convention with Kim Henneman, who invited me to join the group. So I applied in November and by March was here in Alaska and started from that point forward. I feel like this is one of those amazing opportunities that you don’t always know about growing up in the great state of Texas, but got to Alaska as soon as I could.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because of the amazing athletic dogs that come with this trail. I enjoy everything that has to do with nutrition, exercise, physiology, and any animal that can go a thousand miles is a hero to me. Additionally, the people you meet along the trail and the stories that you have to take home never fail to be entertaining and amazing.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was eating Eskimo ice cream for the first time. Unbeknownst to me, judge Karen Ramstead asked me to close my eyes and open my mouth. I will tell you that that was an experience I never will forget in this lifetime. Then she became my best friend thereafter.

What do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is that every day is a new day and you get to make the most of it, so I am here making the most of right now.