About

“I’m a musher.”

She’s been saying it for twelve years yet she’s only sixteen years old.

Eva has wanted to be an Iditarod musher since kindergarten and while her dreams are to run the 150 mile Junior version of “the last great race”, we have a feeling that once she gets a taste of Alaska, she may not stop there!

Eva is the owner and operator of Eva Diva Puppy Snacks, a dog treat business that she created in order to help fund her Jr. Iditarod dreams. At the tender age of eight, she began making and selling her special treats in order to save money to buy her race dogs, her sled, and her way to Alaska.

Growing up on the sled, Eva says she was born to mush. Her parents owned a team of Alaskan Malamutes that helped form her love for the sport. After two years of dog treats, she was able to purchase her pup, Cocoa, who hails from Alaskan roots. Cocoa is the daughter of Rebecca, a former Iditarod race dog for Kelly Maixner.

Not long after Cocoa, Eva was in contact with Kelly who sent her his best command leader, Jayce. It didn’t take much longer for Eva to acquire four more of Cocoa’s siblings and her mother. Then came the Inspire Litter – born in 2018 – who added six more sets of puppy paws to her kennel. In 2020 & 2021 she added Pond, Corgi, and Forest from Wade Marrs’ Stump Jumpin’ Kennel and Skruff from Dallas Seavey’s kennel. Eva now has a team of 15 dogs – though 1 is retired from racing and is a puppy trainer.

Her dog treat business continued to support her as she bought her own race sled from Prairie Bilt Sleds five years ago. She competed in several short distance races and has her sights on longer distances as she grows older. She completed and won the John Beargrease Junior Marathon Dog Sled Race in 2021. She was also awarded the Sportsmanship Award for the 120 mile race. She continued on to compete in the 30 mile Wolf Track Classic Sled Dog Race and placed 10th in a field of adult mushers.

In 2022, she made the long journey to Alaska to run her dream race: the Junior Iditarod. She placed 14th as well as her lead dog., Frost, was awarded the Blue Harness Award. While in Alaska, she also ran the Willow Jr 100. She placed 10th and received the Humanitarian Award for best dog care. An added bonus, 1 week after arriving home from Alaska, Frost gave birth to a litter of six pups whom we call the Stowaway Litter.

We expect many great things from our determined dreamer. Come along for the ride!