Meet The Mushers

Photo by Paul Cyr

Jonathan Hayes is a sixth-generation Tennessean who settled in Maine thirty years ago after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps — and he's called the Northwoods home ever since. Hayes teaches at the K—12 school in Saint Agatha and also serves at the small home missions ARC Church in nearby Frenchville. A registered Maine Guide, author, and adventurer, Hayes has a deep love for long miles and frozen trails. This past winter, he completed a 750-mile expedition across Alaska's low Arctic, traveling with his team of Maine-bred Seppala Siberian sled dogs — direct descendants of Togo and the legendary dogs Leonhard Seppala brought to Maine a century ago. Upon his return, the State of Maine officially adopted the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as the state dog, honoring that legacy and the living lineage behind his team. This season, Hayes is sharing his passion for the North Woods by offering guided wilderness expeditions throughout northern Maine — from dog sledding to canoeing adventures across the state's wild country. The Can-Am 250 has been on Hayes's bucket list for years. Between Alaskan expeditions and races, children racing, Covid, and a lean-snow winter, something has always stood in the way — but not this year. Hayes and his Seppalas are ready to run. Hayes says, "After Maine recognized the Seppala Siberian as the official state dog, I knew I had to bring them to the Can-Am. These dogs carry the legacy of mushing and Maine — and there's no better place to celebrate that than here in Fort Kent."

When I was 8, I put a harness on our house dog, a big St-Bernard! Then one day I saw a team of several dogs ant that's when I realized that I wanted to harness more dogs. As a teenager I was doing sprint races, and it was only in 1996 that I actually started doing longer distances races, racing from 60 miles to 400 miles in the same year, the Labrador 400. I climbed the ladder and I started winning the Can Am Crown 250 in 1998, the in 2025 I won it for the 11th time. I did the race circuit in the North East America, but in 2003 I run the Yukon Quest where I placed sixth. I won the Hudson Bay Quest in Manitoba twice and and I placed second at the UP200 in Michigan many times, but last year I won my first UP200. In 2022, I realize my dream of running the Iditarod and finished 21th. My wife MJ Dulong published a book of my life and adventures. What I like the most about dog sledding is to be in the wilderness, discover new territories and specially to listen to my dogs and to see that we are an amazing team between humankind the beast.

We are from Iowa. I am a pharmacist and my wife is a police officer and we have 3 boys. Currently we have 20 dogs in our kennel. I like the challenge of traveling with a large number of dogs in the 200-300 mile races. I have intentions of one day running longer races.

Passionnés de plein air et d'aventure, mes chiens et moi adorons explorer de nouveaux sentiers. Les courses de chiens de traîneau ont toujours été une de mes passions. L'adrénaline que chaque départ me procure est inimaginable.

j'aime bien partir seul en forêt avec mes chiens, je pratiques la chasse la pêche et la trappe, i love fort kent ! Many camping trips with my dogs.

j'aime entrainer les chiens voir leurs progrès, sur la trail plus rien existe, ces le moments présents , les chiens rien d'autre! I like training dogs to see their progress, on the trail nothing exists anymore, these present moments, the dogs nothing. the white leader is Keisha who I like for her determination, and the black one is Toudra who is the fastest in the kennel! My kennel is a recreational kennel established on the farm

Passionate about hunting and the outdoors, I love being with my dogs in the woods, seeing them evolve within my team. Watching them give their all for me makes me proud of them and makes us a team.

This is my third Can Am overall and my second time running in the 100. I have been running dogs since 2013, starting with a rescue Siberian that I ran recreationally and then building a team of working line Siberians that I run today. I fell in love with Siberians due to their mischievous ways and comical personalities. My goal is always the same, for my team and I to have fun on the trail and for them to finish strong with wagging tails. We appreciate the race and volunteers for what they do so that we can continue partaking in this wonderful event.

pour moi les chiens ce n'est pas une passion, cest un mode de vie un amour inconditionnel, car peux importe la mauvaise journée que l'ont vient de passer une chose sur ils seront toujours la à vous attendre, a vous aimer sans vous juger et sans vous mentir.rnrnsled dogs are a family affair for me. I learned with my parents from an early age.

I retired in May 2021 and moved to Maine to run dogs. My team consists primarily of purebred Siberian Huskies. I have one new Streeper Girl. This will be my first official race. I want to finish and have a great time with my team. I have been running dogs for almost 10 years, primarily on dry land (ATV and Bike). This is my third year living in Saint David, Maine, and the team has been running in front of sleds, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, and ATVs.

I am 18 years old and live in Fort Kent, Maine. I will be running the second team for SDI Kennel this year. I am really looking forward to running more races this year and seeing what this team of dogs can do.

My family and I adopted our first sled dogs in 2012 from Sibersong Sleddogs and the dream has only grown from there. This is my 13th season running dogs and I could not be more thrilled to be back racing at the Can-Am Crown. My team and I have competed in 3 Can-Am 30s (2015, 2016, 2019) and 3 Can-Am 100s (2017, 2020, 2023) and we are so exited to be at the starting line again. The Can-Am is my favorite race that I have done and it would not be possible without the amazing volunteers and race organizers. Thank you all for putting on such an amazing event.

Born and raised in st anne, started dog sledding since the age of 5 , been dog sledding since, its my passion...In the next few years i plan on traveling canada for dog sled competition

I'm back ready or not. I'm a no longer a rookie but still got a lot to learn. Now with a bigger team I'm off to do more races this year. I live in nh and am a mom of 2 wonderful boys all who also have started training dogs and racing. My superhero husband is my biggest supporter and is always there to help with holding dogs or fixing broken sleds. This is amazing that I get to do this again. Ready, let's go!