Al Hardman, CEO of Hardman Construction in Ludington, Michigan and owner of Alcan Kennels, started mushing in 1990 with his two pet Samoyeds. He entered his first mid-distance race in January 1993, and he and his wife traveled to Alaska that same year to watch the beginning of the Iditarod. That was the beginning of his addiction to the sport of sled dog racing.

After setting up Alcan Kennels with carefully selected Alaskan Huskies, he ran his first Iditarod in 1997, saying, “That race was the best adventure I have ever undertaken.” The thrill and challenge of the race made such a lasting impression that he ran and completed the Iditarod again in 2000 and 2002. Al finished his third Iditarod in 10 days, 4 hours, and 20 minutes, which was 31 hours ahead of his 2000 finish. In 1997 he came in 33rd, and now with his fall training program in place and a kennel full of happy, healthy dogs, he’s looking forward to a top twenty finish for Iditarod 2004!

In 2002, Al and fellow Iditarod musher, Lloyd Gilbertson, established the Seney 300, a 300+ mile/five day Iditarod Qualifier and training run, held in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. Their goal is to teach rookie and recreational mushers how to camp and run the 300-mile distance safely and without assistance.

Al was born (July 17, 1942) and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, where he grew up with a great love of the outdoors. He received a degree in civil engineering in 1966 and in 1979 developed Hardman Construction, Inc., a heavy construction company. Fulfilling the dream of creating a successful contracting business, he felt it was time to purse his long time dream of sled dog racing.

He is a member of the Lions Club, and the Mason County Foundation. Al says he enjoys RV camping, hunting and backpacking. He and his wife are the parents of five grown children: Kim, Karen, Jennifer, Tim, and Ted.

Ed Stielstra

Ed Stielstra, born on October 15, 1969 in Michigan. Ed and his wife Tasha own and operate a dog sled touring business and racing kennel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The kennel is home for 48 adult dogs, almost all of which were raised and trained by the Stielstras since the day they were born. Ed comments, “I am excited to run the 2004 Iditarod to see how our dogs compare to the best teams in the world”.

After watching a presentation by Al Hardman about 10 years ago, Ed immediately began mushing dogs. He and Al both struggled through the “mushing school of hard knocks”, as Ed put it, and have come along way together as mushers and as friends.

Ed graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in biology; he decided to devote his life to his true love, the full-time care and training of dogs. “Our dogs are truly our life. We believe that we can raise working dogs that are our best friends and our true kids. I am very happy to be spending my first trip across Alaska with sixteen of my very best friends” remarks Ed.

Nature's Kennel website

Jim Conner, a native of Michigan was born on June 3, 1969. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University where he majored in Construction Science. He owns a construction company in Grand Haven.

Jim began mushing in 1997 and became interested in the Iditarod after mushing with his father-in-law, Al Hardman, an Iditarod veteran. He has completed the Seney 300 and the UP 200.

He lists his hobbies as hunting, training labs and outdoor activities. He and his wife, Jennifer, do not have any children at this time.

Jim Warren

James Warren, 59 was born on October 16, 1944 in Michigan. Jim is a retired engineer and a Christmas tree farmer in his home state. He became interested in the Iditarod while visiting Tundra Outfitters in Mackinaw City and took advantage of the Iditarod tour special that Tundra organizes. The group followed the 2000 Iditarod and after following the race from Anchorage to Nome, Jim says, “I was hooked.”

Jim also has fifteen years of PRO Rally racing on forest roads. However, he feels that dogs are much more friendly than race cars between events.

In 2001, Jim ran the TCSDR, finishing 5th and finished the Midnight Run in 28th position. He ran the TCSDR again in 2002 (finished 10th) and 2003 (finished 15th). He finished 3rd in 2002 in the Seeny 300, and again in 2003. He handled for Al Hardman for the 2002 Iditarod and the 2003 Beargrease.

He is married to the former Jennifer Swenson and has a son, Christopher,18, and a daughter, Whitney, 14. Jim is also a volunteer firefighter.

Warren Enterprises website