The sled dogs were excited to be at Ferguson Ridge. They were barking as if they were saying, "Oh when can we run? We've been waiting forever! Let's go, let's go! We have traveled all this way to win and run, run, run!"

When they were lined up, you could tell they were ready to go. Then the announcer said, "Five, four, three, two, one!" One by one the dogs said, "Here we go!" and "Yea, it's time to race!" You could tell the dogs were so excited to be at Ferguson Ridge.

By Rachel Frolander Enterprise, Oregon

Billy Snodgrass is from Dubois, WY. He's been racing for 25 years. His mushing highlight is finishing his first Iditarod. Mr. Snodgrass has 200 dogs and likes to play tennis and ride horses. He likes to go up to the mountains and to beaches with huge waves.

By Colten Rickert Enterprise, Oregon

Steve Riggs has 41 dogs. His dogs wear booties. That's 164 booties! Steve has raced for 12 years. His dog breeds are Siberian and Alaskan Huskies. The brand of dog food is Mushers Brand Dog Food. His favorite dog is Trapper, one of his lead dogs. The scariest race was Flat Head Race. It was really steep terrain and he was going 200 miles down. Steve is doing the 200 mile race, and his wife, WendyArrota,is doing the 100 mile race. His 2nd lead dog is Corona, and she is a female. He has done 100 races. He says this race will take him 40 hours.

By Curtis Sanders, 4th grade, Enterprise, Oregon

We get on the bus. People are so excited. We're at Fergi. Dogs are getting ready to race. It is snowy. The dogs take off, and they are doing the 200 mile race. I bet they are so excited and wonder if they are going to win. Some people get hurt. I vote for Wendy. I yelled, "Go Wendy!" Wendy's dogs go the wrong way. I wonder what happens when the dogs go the wrong way. Who ever wins, I am proud of them. The snow is so mushy. The wind is blowing. I smell wood burning. When the race was over, we had to go through the mushy mud to get in the bus. We are back at school.

By Lexie Gassett, 3rd grade, Enterprise, Oregon

As I laid on the wet snowy ground, the mushers came to the start. I yelled for Steve Riggs. They called his name. I was so excited! I watched him go by with his 2 lead dogs, Corona and Trapper. They counted down, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Go!" Trapper and Corona zoomed by me. They called other names that I didn't care about. I just cared about Steve Riggs. After they called all the names, Ms. Stauffer let us run to the top of the hill and back down. Then we got on the school bus and "wee, wee, wee!" all the way home.

By Ethan Hayes, 3rd grade, Enterprise, Oregon

When I walked out of the bus, the snow was really cold when I touched the snow. My fingers were red because they were so cold. I was right by the fence, and the mushers went off. The freezing air blew in my face. Then I was standing up for a while, and my feet were ice cubes.

Steve Riggs's dogs were ready! When he went off, his dogs ran fast! They didn't even care about the people. His dogs ran so fast, the snow flew everywhere on the ground. Steve Riggs was the first person to go, and I bet he will win.

Wow! Steve Riggs finished in third place. Now that is what I saw and felt.

By Jean Luc De Palma, 4th grade, Enterprise, Oregon

Steve Riggs Lives in Condon, Montana with his wife, Wendy. With 12 years of experience behind him, Riggs is now doing the 200 mile for the first time from Ferguson Ridge to Halfway, OR.

He has 42 dogs and is a support of Mushers Brand Dog Food. His dogs are Siberian/Alaskan Huskies. The lead dogs are Corona and Trapper.

Steve claims his most frightening experience is the Flathead Race near Flathead, MT because of the "very steep terrain."

He has 9 females and 3 males. His wife, Wendy, is doing the 100 mile race with 8 dogs. Riggs expects the race to take about 40 hours.

By James Madsen, 4th grade,Enterprise, Oregon

During the sled dog race dogs were barking. Kids were shouting. The air was very warm and gross. The dogs were so excited they were jumping on one another. When everyone said, "Go!" The dogs started to go. Billy Snodgrass came in first place!

By ArekEmsen, 3rd grade, Enterprise, Oregon

Here at the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Races you hear dogs barking and howling. Everyone is so excited to be here. The announcer announced, "Are you ready for the race to begin? If you are, give it up for Steve Riggs. He's been racing for 12 years and he's doing the 200 mile race. Good Luck Steve!"

"Go Steve!" I yelled. A lot of people were shouting and cheering his name. I wonder what it would be like if I was a musher. The air is pretty cold and breezy. The dogs have got to be freezing running in this weather. Oh well, they're tough.

By Jessie Teeney, 3rd grade, Enterprise,Oregon

Rick Katucki

Rick has 12 dogs. He enjoys racing very much. He said, "My father, John Katucki, was a racer, and he inspired me to race." Rick's scariest experience was when he was attacked by a bear while he was racing. Rick is doing the 100 mile race. He said,"The Eagle Cap Extreme is my favorite race. I look forward to it every year. " He has been racing for 8 years. His lead dogs are Dozer and Goose ~ Alaskan Huskies.

By Deidre Lee Schrieber, 3rd grade, Enterprise, Oregon