Duluth’s Emily Ford and her sled dogs triumphantly finish the famous Iditarod race in Alaska.

The 2021 Iditarod sled dog race was rerouted due to a lack of snow, moving the official start from Willow to Fairbanks. Television personality Jessie Holmes, from Nenana, Alaska, won the race after finishing in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes, and 41 seconds. Another notable musher, Ford, navigated challenging conditions like blowing snow and a silt storm and finished with 10 of her original 16 dogs on the gang line. These huskies were trained and raced all winter out of the Shameless Huskies kennel in Willow with her partner, Anna Hennessy, and two other Minnesota mushers, Olivia Frank and Skylar Whitcomb. Despite the impressive performance, Ford’s success did not come as a surprise to those who know her well. Hennessy shared on Instagram that Ford remained calm and upbeat throughout the race, providing reassurance and speaking sweetly to her dogs as they continued on their journey. This year’s Iditarod proved to be a challenging yet rewarding experience for all participants, showcasing the dedication and skill of mushers like Ford who have spent countless hours training for this iconic event.

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Photo credit www.startribune.com