2. Sam Dykema; 10 years old; Journeys School, fifth grade, Jackson
Sam is planning to volunteer at Browse “N” Buy which is a ministry of St. John’s Church in Jackson. He sorted toys and games for children for Christmas and helped with the display of these items. He also plans to help in the food pantry. He considers being a junior musher a great chance.

3. Alex Lang; 10 years old; Journeys School, fifth grade, Jackson
Alex volunteered to help at a local Christmas tree stand in Jackson. He selected this business because of its commitment to giving to those in need and for its assistance with Special Olympics. Alex enjoys math, science, art and writing. He likes to hike and ski.

4. Hannah Holik; 10 years old; Journeys School, fifth grade, Jackson
Hannah chose to volunteer at the Jackson Hole Land Trust. She thinks it is important to preserve land for the future. She likes skiing, painting and reading about horses. Her favorite hobby is riding hunter and jumper horses. Hannah and her mom enjoy competing in horse shows.

5. Isie McLoughlin; 8 years old; Pinedale Elementary School, third grade, Daniel
Isie attends school in Pinedale. She will be volunteering at the Sublette County Library where she will help with story hour, shelving books and dusting. She volunteers to serve dinner on St. Patrick’s Day and she helps the Bronx Senior Club. Isie loves dogs and hopes to become a veterinarian someday.

6. Hope Duncan; 9 years old; Big Piney Elementary, fourth grade, Big Piney.
Hope is from Arkansas, but now lives in Big Piney. She notes that since Arkansas doesn’t have snow, she can’t go dog sledding there; however, in Wyoming where snow is plentiful, she can go dog sledding. She considers this to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hope will be volunteering in Big Piney.

7. Russell Kenney; 10 years old; LaBarge Elementary School, fifth grade, LaBarge
Russell has an interest in helping people. He plans to help at the Senior Citizens Center and other places in LaBarge. He is excited to be a junior musher and looks forward to meeting the world’s best mushers.

8. Ross Graham; 11 years old; Metcalf School, sixth grade, Afton
Ross will be volunteering at the Animal Humane Association in Bedford. He plans to help the animals at the shelter by cleaning and bathing them and giving them tender loving care. He has studied the Iditarod in school. Ross has a Siberian Husky named Kya.

9. Shelby Shoell; 11 years old; Osmond Elementary School, sixth grade, Afton
Shelby plans to volunteer at All Creatures Great and Small in Afton. She will walk and take care of the cats, dogs and horses; sweep and clean up after them; and gladly perform any other task that is asked of her. Shelby likes new challenges and is excited to be a junior musher.

10. Nicholas Demler; 10 years old; Osmond Elementary School, fifth grade, Afton
Nicholas considered a variety of ways to serve his community. He chose to volunteer at the Afton Police Department helping to sort food from the local food drive. Because Nicholas loves the feeling of cold wind on his face, he feels that sled dog mushing is the sport for him.

11. Hadley Hewitt; 14 years old; Lyman Intermediate School, eighth grade, Lyman
Hadley plans to volunteer at Locals for Locals tying quilts. This non-profit organization helped her family when her dad was injured in an accident. The Hewitts felt good that their community cared so much for them. Hadley wants to make others feel good too.

12. Thomas “Jacob” Walker; 13 years old; home schooled, sixth grade, Lyman
Jacob spent over 30 hours helping his brother with his Eagle Scout project. Jacob is an Eagle Boy Scout. He would like to learn everything there is to know about mushing, including the sleds, but especially the needs of the dogs.

13. Meghan Haukaas; 12 years old; Davis Middle School, seventh grade, Evanston
Meghan spent her 10 hours of community service ringing the bell for the Salvation Army; helping to wrap Christmas presents and stuff stockings; and helping with the Christmas dinner and party at the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston. She and her family take care of stray dogs because they want them to have a good home.

14. Cord Lowry; 9 years old; Aspen Elementary School, fourth grade, Evanston
Cord will volunteer to help with tasks at the Uinta County Fairgrounds and the Uinta County Complex. He loves dogs and the wintertime. Cord used to pretend to be in the sled dog race by harnessing his stuffed toy dogs and imagining being pulled across the snow. Now, he is excited to be a real junior musher.

15. Leticia Wilson: 12 years old; Davis Middle School, seventh grade; Evanston.
Leticia will be making quilts for newborn babies at Evanston Regional Hospital. Her efforts are an act of caring for the well-being of the newborns. Leticia’s essay was written from the perspective of a sled dog. It was a very creative essay. The fictional malamute writer suggested that Leticia was a special girl who would delight in leading a team of elite dogs.

Media Contact: Darla Worden, Worden Strategic Public Relations, darla@wordenpr.com, 307.734.5335