{"id":13475,"date":"2026-03-15T12:27:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T12:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=13475"},"modified":"2026-03-15T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T12:27:34","slug":"reigning-champion-jessie-holmes-from-alabama-aims-for-another-iditarod-win-in-alaska-yet-his-first-plan-after-victory-has-left-fans-stunned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=13475","title":{"rendered":"Reigning Champion Jessie Holmes From Alabama Aims for Another Iditarod Win in Alaska, Yet His First Plan After Victory Has Left Fans Stunned"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Last year, Jessie Holmes reached the peak of his chosen sport: winner of the Iditarod.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the Sylacauga native is seeking to hold onto his crown as reigning champion of the storied 1,000-mile sled dog race that runs from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, Alaska.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\"><ins id=\"982a9496-777a1d0d2bd78d984f4e4afbe0c4aeba-3-8206\" class=\"982a9496\" data-key=\"777a1d0d2bd78d984f4e4afbe0c4aeba\"><ins id=\"982a9496-777a1d0d2bd78d984f4e4afbe0c4aeba-3-8206-1\"> <ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-ad-slot=\"4548900853\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_10_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_10\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?gdpr=0&amp;client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;slotname=4548900853&amp;adk=1671921319&amp;adf=3662606865&amp;pi=t.ma~as.4548900853&amp;w=1140&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1773577556&amp;rafmt=1&amp;format=1140x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fspotlightfocus.com%2Fthawashington%2Freigning-champion-jessie-holmes-from-alabama-aims-for-another-iditarod-win-in-alaska-yet-his-first-plan-after-victory-has-left-fans-stunned%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawQjhJxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlTlUzTmx1WnlrMUthQnE5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsvq0V5HC7ZJenjWgJ3d7WfJuKdJ1gryLhq2Pcc7Kw9GvWDJMvu9EOsbmV0L_aem_PlX7rZX863kXcBh8Pj1cGw%23goog_rewarded&amp;fwr=0&amp;fwrattr=true&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;abgtt=6&amp;dt=1773577556490&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=6177&amp;idt=1&amp;shv=r20260312&amp;mjsv=m202603100101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D60ac783e50af4183%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577552%3AS%3DALNI_MZW2NxSNSUW8MIJRpq2VQsdUy44Mw&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000137df576e20e%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577552%3AS%3DALNI_MauHdj8SPd8jBz94abHFMcA0jyGsQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3Dbae2f6ed38421cbb%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577552%3AS%3DAA-AfjYeCW3bKUx-24s4EFc248aq&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C1140x280%2C1485x731%2C1005x124%2C1140x280%2C1140x280%2C1140x280%2C1140x280&amp;nras=7&amp;correlator=7483477806595&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=60&amp;u_his=2&amp;u_h=864&amp;u_w=1536&amp;u_ah=816&amp;u_aw=1536&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1.25&amp;adx=172&amp;ady=1347&amp;biw=1485&amp;bih=731&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=106&amp;eid=95385581%2C31084127%2C31097043%2C31097122%2C95378425%2C95383701%2C95384194%2C95385283%2C31097165%2C95381977&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGsn3zYXCyG1NjWZ8oi7ltcnPsL3H270zeKULr3bAZbZdQYMtWcoeDzzl8GlJZomMEFXmkPqfPpF7lHQ4yYWzH8c7eljw_-6EjlU%2CAOrYGsmtLYW6n5vul_F-S0hQ8F7gpfq85-0uZakjlaYvfAzO2NySZccAb7i0lxb75yUul1zn8kF7kjwnP3ON0uYrh_LlDglGlmYbVQNNog%2CAOrYGskFjpJn1KrZbrmGkdnKldynUnCCZOHbUVNGMeIeKNsC5wiWwkPfJGNDPLZgthp8-bwfod-4oVuKSp8n9ZLgySj8TNAa-O_yyaw0%2CAOrYGskjTkO5R1S7CypxiSpZiHgFfLLdngFC-wZIp-giuhhvB9j_bJuQ67dbImp7HN3OJVUZLodnF1z5SETZc-cgZ1bnf1Gt5n8jXoGe%2CAOrYGslkDifpqR9HVPyE5MkUZ9BhAQS_07FZ1-O0sMe_BNhY9U3ZiL5NzWEfESC1jihwQHKWmwUXLhYIMDodj6njHlTM5UyuMnyzT8NvLA%2CAOrYGsnkpFO6sN0EKYrDWSOCg5a0iJQwyK7In7xSVIk1rMj51IyMZ0FiyxGW8nDfXOJZBZIgD6tFco6ESswKOp8HKf18FM42QEgT8vxk5Zc&amp;pvsid=7833423236141370&amp;tmod=1688156970&amp;uas=3&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=-7%2C-7%2C-7%2C-7%2C1536%2C0%2C1550%2C830%2C1485%2C731&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&amp;abl=CS&amp;pfx=0&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;bz=1.04&amp;ifi=12&amp;uci=a!c&amp;btvi=6&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=6\" name=\"aswift_10\" width=\"1140\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!c\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-query-id=\"CMWl4qHzoZMDFYvclAkdKMkVcg\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins> <\/ins><\/ins><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adn.com\/resizer\/v2\/J2IXJMXRKFFWNB3GGHFK7RTPJM.JPG?auth=13bbd1cadd58ccf05f394b30301129e598442a0df7d1fc40b60db7c6499fc59f&amp;width=800&amp;height=533\" alt=\"Iditarod mushers cross Alaska Range led by Jessie Holmes - Anchorage Daily  News\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The race, which first began in 1973, kicked off Saturday and is expected to run between one to two weeks. As of Monday night, Holmes was in third place.<\/p>\n<p>In a profile with CBS 42 in 2024, Holmes spoke about his love for dogsledding, as well as the many dogs he cares for at his makeshift home in the bush of Brushkana.<\/p>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_5_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_5\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" 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data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/ins><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_6_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_6\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" 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name=\"aswift_6\" width=\"1140\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!8\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-query-id=\"CLW0jKDzoZMDFdSJrgUd0NoDMg\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cloud.iditarod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PNG-image-3.png?ab81a9d2\" alt=\"Jessie Holmes receives the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Fish First Award  \u2013 Iditarod\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_8_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_8\" 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name=\"aswift_8\" width=\"1140\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!a\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-query-id=\"CPrvjKDzoZMDFdo-swAdQx0elQ\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"filled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_7_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_7\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?gdpr=0&amp;client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;adk=1131775226&amp;adf=3098961111&amp;pi=t.aa~a.308148276~rp.1&amp;w=1140&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1773577552&amp;rafmt=1&amp;to=qs&amp;pwprc=2966709337&amp;format=1140x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fspotlightfocus.com%2Fthawashington%2Freigning-champion-jessie-holmes-from-alabama-aims-for-another-iditarod-win-in-alaska-yet-his-first-plan-after-victory-has-left-fans-stunned%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawQjhJxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlTlUzTmx1WnlrMUthQnE5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsvq0V5HC7ZJenjWgJ3d7WfJuKdJ1gryLhq2Pcc7Kw9GvWDJMvu9EOsbmV0L_aem_PlX7rZX863kXcBh8Pj1cGw&amp;fwr=0&amp;pra=3&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;fa=40&amp;abgtt=6&amp;dt=1773577552979&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=2666&amp;idt=-M&amp;shv=r20260312&amp;mjsv=m202603100101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D60ac783e50af4183%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577551%3AS%3DALNI_MZW2NxSNSUW8MIJRpq2VQsdUy44Mw&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000137df576e20e%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577551%3AS%3DALNI_MauHdj8SPd8jBz94abHFMcA0jyGsQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3Dbae2f6ed38421cbb%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577551%3AS%3DAA-AfjYeCW3bKUx-24s4EFc248aq&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C1140x280%2C1485x731%2C1005x124%2C1140x280%2C1140x280&amp;nras=6&amp;correlator=7483477806595&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=60&amp;u_his=1&amp;u_h=864&amp;u_w=1536&amp;u_ah=816&amp;u_aw=1536&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1.25&amp;adx=172&amp;ady=3334&amp;biw=1485&amp;bih=731&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=422&amp;eid=95385581%2C31084127%2C31097043%2C31097122%2C95378425%2C95383701%2C95384194%2C95385283%2C31097165%2C95381977&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGsn3zYXCyG1NjWZ8oi7ltcnPsL3H270zeKULr3bAZbZdQYMtWcoeDzzl8GlJZomMEFXmkPqfPpF7lHQ4yYWzH8c7eljw_-6EjlU%2CAOrYGsmtLYW6n5vul_F-S0hQ8F7gpfq85-0uZakjlaYvfAzO2NySZccAb7i0lxb75yUul1zn8kF7kjwnP3ON0uYrh_LlDglGlmYbVQNNog&amp;pvsid=7833423236141370&amp;tmod=1688156970&amp;uas=3&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=-7%2C-7%2C-7%2C-7%2C1536%2C0%2C1550%2C830%2C1485%2C731&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&amp;abl=NS&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;bz=1.04&amp;ifi=9&amp;uci=a!9&amp;btvi=4&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=13\" name=\"aswift_7\" width=\"1140\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!9\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-query-id=\"CLucjaDzoZMDFS7QlAkdnEoQng\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhen you\u2019re dealing with live animals, your life revolves around taking care of them,\u201d Holmes said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot like being a farmer, you\u2019re married to your land, you\u2019re married to your animals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lew Freedman, a sports writer and author who has covered the Iditarod for decades, said the race has become a way of life in Alaska and Holmes has been a rising star in the sport ever since he competed in his first race in 2018.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gray-ktuu-prod.gtv-cdn.com\/resizer\/v2\/https%3A%2F%2Fdo0bihdskp9dy.cloudfront.net%2F03-13-2026%2Ft_a2dfae2e86aa416388cdc2c5ee8a8b7f_name_file_1280x720_2000_v3_1_.jpg?auth=8dbcdabe3b22ea1ce63b917871332d6046e87e73d553db70e6cbea20a24eecda&amp;width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;smart=true\" alt=\"Jessie Holmes reaches the Yukon River, receives a gourmet meal\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3619133031508264\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_9_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_9\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?gdpr=0&amp;client=ca-pub-3619133031508264&amp;output=html&amp;h=280&amp;adk=1131775226&amp;adf=3365918229&amp;pi=t.aa~a.308144991~rp.1&amp;w=1140&amp;fwrn=4&amp;fwrnh=100&amp;lmt=1773577632&amp;rafmt=1&amp;to=qs&amp;pwprc=2966709337&amp;format=1140x280&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fspotlightfocus.com%2Fthawashington%2Freigning-champion-jessie-holmes-from-alabama-aims-for-another-iditarod-win-in-alaska-yet-his-first-plan-after-victory-has-left-fans-stunned%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawQjhJxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlTlUzTmx1WnlrMUthQnE5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsvq0V5HC7ZJenjWgJ3d7WfJuKdJ1gryLhq2Pcc7Kw9GvWDJMvu9EOsbmV0L_aem_PlX7rZX863kXcBh8Pj1cGw%23goog_rewarded&amp;fwr=0&amp;pra=3&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;aieuf=1&amp;aicrs=1&amp;fa=40&amp;abgtt=6&amp;dt=1773577552983&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=2669&amp;idt=1&amp;shv=r20260312&amp;mjsv=m202603100101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D60ac783e50af4183%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577552%3AS%3DALNI_MZW2NxSNSUW8MIJRpq2VQsdUy44Mw&amp;gpic=UID%3D0000137df576e20e%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577552%3AS%3DALNI_MauHdj8SPd8jBz94abHFMcA0jyGsQ&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3Dbae2f6ed38421cbb%3AT%3D1773537441%3ART%3D1773577552%3AS%3DAA-AfjYeCW3bKUx-24s4EFc248aq&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C1140x280%2C1485x731%2C1005x124%2C1140x280%2C1140x280%2C1140x280%2C1140x280%2C1140x280&amp;nras=8&amp;correlator=7483477806595&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=60&amp;u_his=3&amp;u_h=864&amp;u_w=1536&amp;u_ah=816&amp;u_aw=1536&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=1.25&amp;adx=172&amp;ady=5891&amp;biw=1485&amp;bih=731&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=2970&amp;eid=95385581%2C31084127%2C31097043%2C31097122%2C95378425%2C95383701%2C95384194%2C95385283%2C31097165%2C95381977&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGsn3zYXCyG1NjWZ8oi7ltcnPsL3H270zeKULr3bAZbZdQYMtWcoeDzzl8GlJZomMEFXmkPqfPpF7lHQ4yYWzH8c7eljw_-6EjlU%2CAOrYGsmtLYW6n5vul_F-S0hQ8F7gpfq85-0uZakjlaYvfAzO2NySZccAb7i0lxb75yUul1zn8kF7kjwnP3ON0uYrh_LlDglGlmYbVQNNog%2CAOrYGskFjpJn1KrZbrmGkdnKldynUnCCZOHbUVNGMeIeKNsC5wiWwkPfJGNDPLZgthp8-bwfod-4oVuKSp8n9ZLgySj8TNAa-O_yyaw0%2CAOrYGskjTkO5R1S7CypxiSpZiHgFfLLdngFC-wZIp-giuhhvB9j_bJuQ67dbImp7HN3OJVUZLodnF1z5SETZc-cgZ1bnf1Gt5n8jXoGe%2CAOrYGslkDifpqR9HVPyE5MkUZ9BhAQS_07FZ1-O0sMe_BNhY9U3ZiL5NzWEfESC1jihwQHKWmwUXLhYIMDodj6njHlTM5UyuMnyzT8NvLA%2CAOrYGsnkpFO6sN0EKYrDWSOCg5a0iJQwyK7In7xSVIk1rMj51IyMZ0FiyxGW8nDfXOJZBZIgD6tFco6ESswKOp8HKf18FM42QEgT8vxk5Zc%2CAOrYGsliC_V_MrMSC6G6DUSGlwFBuWv7BKYnINRMG4k0hemYBZTMnPmN-5IuHHXINKI8wAndUe3pesdz6uXc2DhKPg3eJBs3rkwhLeymPg&amp;pvsid=7833423236141370&amp;tmod=1688156970&amp;uas=3&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1920&amp;brdim=-7%2C-7%2C-7%2C-7%2C1536%2C0%2C1550%2C830%2C1485%2C731&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&amp;abl=NS&amp;cms=2&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;bz=1.04&amp;ifi=11&amp;uci=a!b&amp;btvi=7&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=79153\" name=\"aswift_9\" width=\"1140\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!b\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-query-id=\"CLCQ78XzoZMDFWjRlAkdwr4sGw\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s made an impact and he\u2019s very determined to be a guy who wins it,\u201d Freedman said. \u201cThat\u2019s what he said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the Iditarod, Holmes is best known for the eight seasons he appeared on National Geographic\u2019s \u201cLife Below Zero,\u201d where his extreme subsistence lifestyle was highlighted.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adn.com\/resizer\/v2\/XFK3NMQZHFAENBRDWC223Z3LHM.JPG?auth=00e671ff2bd5eda670dab55e428e28971effb70169a8793f153ad60fbe3695b6&amp;width=800&amp;height=533\" alt=\"Wind batters Iditarod mushers in Alaska Range as teams head toward 24-hour  rests - Anchorage Daily News\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat allowed me to be able to make an income, not by building houses, not doing yard work, but just living my life,\u201d Holmes told CBS 42. \u201cI took all that income and pursued my dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On March 14, 2025, Holmes finally won the race, marking the longest race in Iditarod history at 1,128 miles due to heavy snow that changed the routes. Holmes finished the race in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-1500w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2022-04\/220414-Jessie-Holmes-al-0749-c452d7.jpg\" alt=\"Pack of sled dogs owned by Iditarod vet, reality TV star kill family pet in  Alaska\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of things that can happen in your life once you win the Iditarod,\u201d Holmes told The Associated Press in an interview before this year\u2019s race. \u201cYou could become a real big deal, or you could just go back out in the bush and get right back to work, you know? And that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last year, Jessie Holmes reached the peak of his chosen sport: winner of the Iditarod. Now, the Sylacauga native is seeking to hold onto his crown as&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13476,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13475"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13477,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13475\/revisions\/13477"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}