Terry Knowles, a U.S. Army veteran with more than 31 years of service to his nation, including a tour in Vietnam, moved to Brownville just over five years ago, attracted by the season called winter.
A well-respected dog trainer and an avid musher, Terry, 58, has owned Siberian huskies for more than 20 years, and is very active in mushing in the Piscataquis County area. He runs his sled dogs for fun and recreation, but he also competes in races, such as the popular CanAm race. He recognizes the positive economic impact the sport can have on the region’s economy, and for the past two years, he has been an active promoter and organizer of the Greenville-to-Brownville 100-Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race, and serves on the race committee.
When Terry came back from an organizational meeting following a 30-mile race in Greenville, his wife, Margie, said, "Why don't you talk to the Greenville Committee about having a race go from Greenville to Brownville, similar to the stage races conducted in the Midwest?" Terry liked the idea, presented the concept and the rest is history.
Although insufficient snow cover forced cancellation of this year’s race, Terry and other organizers are already looking forward to next year’s race, scheduled for Feb. 10. Support has been strong among citizens of his hometown of Brownfield as well as from throughout Piscataquis County, with residents, merchants, town and county officials, and members of local snowmobile clubs and civic organizations all pitching in.
Several hundred spectators turned out for the inaugural race in 2005, and organizers hope to attract even more to next year’s race. Enthusiasm is certainly high for this exciting event.
Terry is generous with his time to promote his favorite sport. He and other Maine-based mushers met with AMC representatives this past winter to discuss the growing interest in dog-sledding and to consult on AMC’s use of Little Lyford Pond Camps as a venue for mushing.
“We see mushing as a unique and exciting form of non-motorized outdoor receation,” said AMC Special Projects Manager Gerry Whiting. “It was great to learn from Terry and other mushers about the potential the activity has to provide another form of winter recreation and to help diversify the local economy. We’re looking forward to offering mushing workshops out of Little Lyford Pond Camps next year, and we also look forward to continuing our sponsorship of the 100-Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race.”
-- Margaret Williams
