Meet the 2026
Mushers

eva koldji

Hibbing, MN

I stepped away from mushing to attend college, graduated from Bemidji State with a teaching degree, and have spent nine years in the classroom. Seven of those years were in Alabama—too hot, not enough snow—so I’m back up north! I taught some amazing kids there whom I miss dearly; they helped shape me into the teacher I am today. This is my second year teaching middle school math and science at Assumption Catholic School in Hibbing.
Middle schoolers vs. sled dogs? High energy, big hearts, treat-motivated… only the snacks differ. And honestly, the same lessons apply in both arenas: teamwork, clear communication, and the joy of working hard at something you love.
Once I settled back in the North Woods, I was offered an opportunity I couldn’t pass up: racing a team out of John and Robin Fisher’s kennel in Cook, Minnesota. I’m incredibly grateful for their mentorship and trust. There’s no better medicine than standing on the runners behind a team of dogs doing what they were born to do—and I try to bring that sense of grit and wonder straight into my classroom.