Let the fur fly

WILLOW — What started as a hobby for a young trapper and fur salesman turned into a passion, profession and Iditarod bragging rights.

More than 30 years ago, John Sarvis began making fur hats for himself, but when more and more friends requested them, making fur hats became his occupation. In expanding his business, Sarvis also created a record of his own that will continue to grow until he chooses to stop.

Sarvis, who is in his 60s, is, by his own estimation, the vendor with the most longevity at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

“I’ve been out here for at least 25 years, long before there were permits and vendor licenses,” he said. “I was out here by myself for many years.”

The claim of longest running vendor is not one that is documented in the Iditarod record books, but it is one his wife Kathy can verify.

“Yeah, I remember when John was the only vendor out here and he had just one table,” she said, pointing to their spread of tables, racks, containers and pelts. “And now it has grown to all this.”

Some 20 years ago, Sarvis would come out before the race and set up his one table and would be the only vendor in sight all day. No hot dogs, no kettle corn, no hot chocolate. For many of those years Sarvis would suffer the cold by his lonesome.

“And then I married him and now I am out here as well,” Kathy added.

Together the couple work their spot all day of Sunday’s official restart selling products from their own business, Alaska Fur Cache, a fur clothing company based in Anchorage.

“We have been coming here a long, long time,” John said. “In the past you could just come out and set up. Now you have to apply before and pay for vendor licenses.”

For Sarvis, making fur hats, pelts, headbands, earmuffs and ruffs is only a natural extension of his trapper and fur salesman background.

Although the trappers and salesman now come to him to sell their wares, Sarvis said he still enjoys his trade.

“Yeah, I like getting out here to the Iditarod and working. It is a good time,” he said.

A good time it is, but Sarvis also knows a financial opportunity when he sees one.

“We do pretty well out here. By far, this weekend — the start in Anchorage and restart in Willow — and the Fur Rendezvous are our biggest weekends of the year,” John said.

As the Iditarod grows in fame and popularity it is only natural more vendors will see the same opportunity John Sarvis recognized decades ago.

His unofficial, self-claimed record as longest running vendor is safe until he decides to give it up — which could be a while as he plans to keep selling his products at the restart for the rest of his life.

Contact Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutcheson@frontiersman.com or 352-2265.