Made Here
Underdog
Season 21 Episode 4 | 1h 23m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
A hardscrabble dairy farmer risks it all to chase his dreams of dog mushing in Alaska.
The curiously optimistic tale of Doug Butler - a hardscrabble Vermont dairy farmer who risks losing the only home he's ever known to chase his dreams of dog mushing in Alaska.
Made Here is a local public television program presented by Vermont Public
Sponsored in part by the John M. Bissell Foundation, Inc. | Learn about the Made Here Fund
Made Here
Underdog
Season 21 Episode 4 | 1h 23m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
The curiously optimistic tale of Doug Butler - a hardscrabble Vermont dairy farmer who risks losing the only home he's ever known to chase his dreams of dog mushing in Alaska.
How to Watch Made Here
Made Here is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipPart of These Collections
Sports & Recreation
Enjoy films focused on sports and recreation in the great outdoors.
View CollectionProviding Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship-Hi.
I'm -Eric Ford for made here.
-Tommy Hyde's -documentary underdog -tells -the curiously optimistic -tale of Middlebury's -Doug Butler, a hardscrabble -Vermont dairy farmer -who risks losing -the only home -he's ever known -to chase his dreams of dog -mushing in Alaska.
-It's a film that's as funny -as it is raw and emotional.
-You can't help cheering -for the underdog.
-You can watch underdog -and other great -made here films -streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.
-Enjoy the film -and thanks for watching.
-DOUG -Is that one of yours?
-!
Look at that top line, she's bea -!
Do we want to put that little ca -In the sale.
-DOUG -Is she too small?
-CASEY -Yup, too small.
-DOUG -Come on, babies.
-(Mooing) -DOUG -Ya!
Ya!
-(Lots of commotion) -(Vocal music) -(Door slams) -DOUG -!
(Making sweet, indecipherable no -Oh, you scared the kitties?
-Come on!
-Breakfast time.
-Breakfast time.
-!
Don't worry about the kitties.
-Come see Daddy.
-(Laughing) -What?
-!
No, you don't get a girlfriend u -!
So don't ask for a girlfriend.
-!
Seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, -OK. -!
15 and 13 is 28 one more will ma -so let's put two over here.
-No, I can't do that.
-Can't do that.
-Oh yes, I can do that.
-!
I can kick you over and you over -Hip, hip, -hip hip hip!
-Come on, babies.
-Come on, babies.
-Come on, babies.
-Hey!
Hey!
-No no no no!
-Woof!
-Come on!
-!
Hoof trimmer said he'd be here M -Come on, Swissie.
-Come on, Swissie.
-How many more you got, Gary?
-Five cows?
-OK. -(Barking) -!
(Sound of engine breaking down) -Holy... -Ooh!
That hurts.
-!
I like a little pain with my ple -CASEY -!
See how black and burnt that is?
-DOUG -!
How many guys in the world are s -Ooch!
Ow!
-CASEY: Holy $%@!
-PHONE -!
Eight hundred and thirty five do -DOUG -!
Eight hundred and thirty five do -Have it this afternoon?
-PHONE -No.
-Tomorrow morning?
-PHONE -!
Depends on how you feel about th -I feel good today, dear.
-Ready to go drink... -PHONE -!
Do you want us to order it and h -CASEY -Three days?
-PHONE -!
Or we can add a couple hundred d -DOUG -You'd have it tomorrow?
-PHONE -Yes.
-CASEY -For how much?
-DOUG -Two hundred.
-CASEY -!
No, they can do better than that -CASEY -Tell Brian he can pay for it.
-DOUG -!
Did I tell you how beautiful you -DOUG -Sweetheart, love, dear?
-DOUG -(Laughs) -DOUG -Perfect -DOUG -!
Case of Bud Light and that takes -!
OK, Whitney, thank you so much.
-Bye bye.
-They're overnighting it.
-CASEY -How much?
-!
I don't know, two to three hundr -!
or a case of Belgian white beer.
-!
(Crickets chirping and dogs bark -(Engine roaring) -(Upbeat music) -DOUG -!
Listen.
When she gets nervous, -scratch her ears, OK?
-!
When she gets nervous just start -OK, let's head out.
-JUDGE -!
Do you know the name of your cal -COLTON -Clover.
-JUDGE -What is it?
-COLTON -Clover.
-JUDGE -!
Is she chewing on my shirt and m -!
Is she hungry?
Did you feed her -!
Yeah?
You want to keep leading h -OK, go ahead.
-Hey hey hey hey!
-CASEY -You got a ribbon?
-Put it on your shirt.
-Nice!
-Peewee!
You're a peewee!
-(Acoustic guitar music) -(Barking) -DOUG -!
I'm in the $%@!
pit, I'll call y -DOUG -!
We'll make arrangements so we do -and things like that... -!
milk price isn't good, but we're -!
So money is going to free up, bu -Y'know... -!
and the Co-op is bitching becaus -!
I get really frustrated with the -!
because we do so much business t -And, uhh, -!
you know, like the store will be -!
this next check the seed will be -!
One more payment on the AR, that -!
End of January, ten thousand dol -!
I said it's quite simple, just u -!
to catch up on the grain bill, b -ugh!
- DOUG (SINGING) - Head out on the highway!
-Looking for adventure, -and whatever comes our way!
-Like a true nature's child, -!
we were born, born to be wild!
-Yeehaw!
-Kick some ass, Freddie!
-!
Rock and roll is here to stay!
-Come on, let's go catch 'em.
-!
Yeah Freddie, you can do this!
-Chuck Chuck Chuck!
-Get 'em, babies.
-!
Oh, you see that pretty lady, Li -Did ya?
-Woohoo!
-(Laughing) - DOUG (SINGING) - I know a girl, -she lives on the hill, -!
she won't do it but her sister w -Come on, babies!
-Hurt me, babies!
-!
Tommy, I'm getting an erection!
-!
Just about gave me an erection I -$%@!
-I gotta do this again.
-CASHIER -How was your trip?
-DOUG -Oh!
Man... unbelievable.
-CASHIER -Good!
-!
Two hundred and seventy some odd -Sixteen different countries.
-!
And the people up there, it was -Just nice, nice people.
-Oh!
Isn't that nice.
-!
I was going to call you to come -!
but I didn't have your private n -CLERK -!
How did your kind of your race g -DOUG -Unbelievable.
-Was it good?
-Unbelievable.
-Sixteen different countries.
-CLERK -No kidding.
-DOUG -From all over the world.
-!
And the Swedish people, they wer -!
but the rest of the people were -DOUG -!
And then we went to Haliburton, -BANK TELLER -How'd that go?
-!
Unbelievable.
We ended up eighth -Awesome.
-!
The top American the last two da -!I filled it all out, I just nee -the bottom and the back.
-You're such a sweetie.
-JOANN -Doug, work on those papers.
-Turn the phone off.
-Is he making faces at me?
-(Laughing) I'm used to it.
-A life of it.
-JOANN -Douglas?
-What?
-!
I don't have my glasses, otherwi -!You would've?
Where's your glas -In the car.
-JOANN -!
Our grandparents bought this far -!
It's almost a hundred years... -that it's been Butlers.
-!
Can you imagine what these walls -!
What has happened in this house?
-You know?
-Hmm.
-Thank you.
-!
We lost Dad early, early, Doug a -like five in the morning.
-Doug said... -!
JoAnn's not going to the funeral -!
She's done too much, she's done -!
The dogs were ready to roll out -!
When he just grabbed hold of me -the back of the four wheeler.
-!
And I'm hanging on to him, and o -!
and a deer comes out of the bush -!
And then on the other side we lo -just sitting there.
-!
And I was like, Doug!
Look!
Look -That was mom and dad.
-I think he was just grieving.
-!
And that was his way of dealing -(Birds chirping) -DOUG -!
When my mother was going, she'd -DOUG -and wash all the windows.
-!
She'd have all these windows spo -Oh, it was a huge thing.
-Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
-Did you get him?
-PHONE -!
I haven't even heard a $%@!
shot -!
I thought I heard a shot over yo -PHONE -!
I just seen a doe come from over -PHONE -!
and she kept lookin', lookin', -PHONE -!
now she's headed towards Freiden -DOUG -Oh!
-DOUG -Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
-!
Deer coming up out of grandpa's.
-!
deer feeding over by the old man -PHONE -Alright, I'll let you go.
-!
Here comes a buck, Timmy, here c -!
Come on!
It's a nice buck.
It's -It's a $%@!
nice buck!
-Jesus Christ!
-That's a @&♪$?&!
rack buck.
-Come on, big boy.
-It's a @&♪$?&!
rack.
-Oh, my God.
-Oh my heavens.
-Holy ♪!$@!
-(BOOM) -!
When he went in he was broadside -but I blew it.
I blew it.
-DOUG -!
Soon, there will be fewer than t -!
for the first time since pioneer -from the Louisiana Purchase.
-Huh.
-!
You keep pinching and pinching, -!
there's nothing left to pinch, s -!
a fifth generation farmer in a w -Hmm.
-!
Because, you know, like us damn -!
I applied for a grant to redo th -!
I wanna do this, I wanna do that -you just keep wanting to... -!
Bart, I gotta make it decent for -!
I don't want Casey to go through -You know?
-!
All's I need is a %@♪!
line of -(Phone ringing) -Ugh.
-DOUG -Two hundred.
-!For the next time, we have some -OK. -Is that four hundred?
- Yep.
-(Barking) -(Acoustic guitar music) -(Dogs howling) -RADIO -!
Day one of some fantastic mushin -RADIO -!
People have talked about what is -!
It literally is like if the Idit -!
the Open North American is the q -!
It is the drag racing of dog mus -RADIO PRESENTER #2 -!
I mean, think about it, we're 40 -RADIO PRESENTER #1 -Yeah.
-RADIO PRESENTER #2 -You know.
-RADIO PRESENTER #1 -!
You don't get the longest contin -!
and not have people want to come -DOUG -!
Okay, next time will be Guy's.
-!
Oh, Teztner's team looked real g -Real good.
-That trail looks beautiful.
-!
Pack the @&♪$?&!
truck, we gotta -Here we go.
-!
Two, four, six, eight, 10, 12, 1 -Look at that!
Look at that!
-Oh, man!
-!
I'm so jealous I can hardly stan -Look at that trail.
-Look at that trail.
-You know what I mean?
-Wow wow.
-!
We gotta be there next year, Tom -Oh no, we got cattle out.
-Oh, we got cattle out.
-Oh my god we got cattle out.
-OK, bye.
-(Door slams) -DOUG -(Barking) -Get!
-Back to bed.
-Get in there.
-!
OK the longest time in my life t -I think it was five nights.
-Up in Maine.
-!
Got to the ocean and everything.
-It was September 20th... -you know... -1975 -You get into this groove of -!
Gotta milk the cows, gotta do th -!
Then pretty quick -uh oh!
Where t -NURSE -!
When you're ready, take a big br -!
Big big big!
Then blow out as ha -!
Good, good, good all the way, Do -Keep going.
-Good.
-Excellent.
-When you're done, inhale.
-All the way back to the top.
-Excellent.
-DOUG -I can feel that one.
-Yeah baby.
-A little light headed?
-!
I can feel that for a second, ye -NURSE -You wanna sit down?
-Now we're good to go.
-NURSE -What kind of dogs do you use?
-OK. -!
Back in the 90s, the Europeans c -!
for an international competition -Huh.
-!
And then we all went to breeding -!
So now all my dogs are have Germ -!
in their genetics, y'know, from.
-!
I got some that are half and the -And they're faster... -!And what are they mixed with?
-Our old huskies.
-That's interesting.
-They are energetic dogs.
-Oh, crazy.
-How tall are you?
-Six foot.
-PA -You smoke?
-No.
-!So it says right here, they dia -!chronic obstructive pulmonary d -Whatever the hell that is?
-!That's something that people ge -!Farmer's Lung is something that -!presenting similar to chronic o -in a lot of symptoms, -!so that's probably what the... -what that's about.
-!
Estimated lung age -that means I' -!That's what this computer progr -!lung age is based on the result -!
So if I started riding bikes or.
-It would help.
-!That would build your heart, yo -!and it would help build your lu -!Build your endurance, all that -We need that for Fairbanks.
-I'm sure.
-DOUG -!
My plan was when Greg was here, -!
be the big Butler farm milking a -!
But you see the successful big f -!
that have family members managin -Four Hills, four brothers.
-Dubois, three brothers.
-Audette's.
-!
There's four Audette's, plus the -!
So you see me trying to run a th -!
on employees, would be nowhere's -as family members that care.
-!
When you don't feel good like th -!
you really slow down and think a -!
Is it called depression right no -Is that what it sounds like?
-(Gunshot) -(Gunshot) -JOANN -!
I mean, the reality of it is aft -JOANN -do you think you can do this?
-DOUG -Do what?
-JOANN -The race.
-DOUG -Yeah.
-It's not bad.
-!And so are you going to have so -!is there anybody at the barn th -You cannot be lifting those ba -It's stupid.
-!
I lift more than that heavier ev -!Is there anybody over at the ba -No.
-DOUG -We got 22 top dogs.
-Link -Mac -Freddie -Dancer -Toro -Rosie -Lacey, Lucky Charm, Katie, -Garlic, Freedom, Chuck, -Coors, Hamburg, Chili, -Princey, -Dillon, -Jackie, -Opal, -Squirrel, -and crazy... -Prancer.
-!
Those are our 22 top right now.
- Twenty-two.
- !
We're hoping that if we hit the -DOUG -(sweetly mumbling) -(Acoustic music) -!
So you see the calves being born -!
it'd be if this place was redone -!
this was one big cement floor an -!
put sawdust down, then in the mo -!
put fresh sawdust down, and... -have pens, y'know.
Oh boy.
-!
It'd be so much more efficient, -!
We'd have more time drink coffee -Ahh!
I gotta get a bottle.
-!
This would be lights, it would b -!
there'd be hot water, this would -with the calves here.
-!
This walk in would be when we br -!
would be in the first pen there.
-!
Then put them in and we'll just -!
off to the other barn when they -!
Oh, we may have few dogs out in -JOANN -So this time it was... -so... Holy Toledo.
-!So there's almost thirty.
There -Wow.
-!Boy, if you could get these mil -!like you've been telling me, yo -!I mean, not rolling, but you co -!I mean, look at how much you ma -JoAnn... -!I know but I need to see it in -!
You saw that there, thats 400,00 -!
If I had 400,000, where would I -Right.
-!
I'd be sitting in the Fairbanks -!Yeah.
And that's why we're doin -Mm-hmm.
-OK. -!
Seed, feed, seed, fertilizer, gr -!Jeez I could cry, it makes me s -!Here's another twenty six thous -(Rock music) -Race mode is kicking in!
- (SINGING) - No stop signs!
Speed limits!
-!
That's right, no speed limits to -Yeehaw!
-Let's go kick some %@♪!
ass!
-Freddie!
-!
Whoops, calm down, calm down.
I -Woo!
-(Rock music builds) -(Speaking in french) -Hey!
Yeehaw!
-REPORTER -You're recording, right?
-Ha ha ha!
-REPORTER -!
Can you say your name and then s -!
I'm Doug Butler the bad guy -B, A, -REPORTER -!
Love it.
I think I can spell Dou -REPORTER -Um, where are you from?
-Middlebury, Vermont.
-REPORTER -!
Nice.
Tell me about your dogs.
-!
I went to a race in Vermont, a l -!
and I saw these dogs running and -!
on the way home I stopped and go -!
and in the classifieds found a f -!
so I bought the five dog team.
-!
And then we started running our -and... -here we are now.
-!
With a goal to get to Fairbanks, -He likes to dance.
-!
Turn the music on!
See he wants -REPORTER -!
No, he wants to dance with you.
-!
See?
You're lookin at the camera - So see what I mean?
- !
There's more to this sport than - !
CROWD: Hey!
Good to see ya, pal.
- !
DOUG: Hey old timer, how you bee - CROWD: Dougie!
- !
DOUG: Look at all these beautifu -CROWD -Love ya.
Good to see you.
- DOUG: Who's this old duffer?
- !
CROWD: Are you gonna hug me too?
-RACE ANNOUNCER -3, 2, 1, GO!
-DOUG -Look we started!
-Rock and roll!
-Gee!
Gee!
Gee!
-Yeehaw!
Hurt me Freddie!
-Yeehaw!
-Rock and roll, baby!
-!
Cold beer and wild women for you -SPECTATOR -Somebody give him a beer... -SPECTATOR -!
and he drove by here and said, y -Ha ha ha!
-DOUG -Yeehaw!
-!
Hey!
I'm drinking and driving!
Y -Here's to you, old buddy!
-Yeehaw!
-(Applause) -ANNOUNCER -Your champion, Guy Girard!
-ANNOUNCER -!
Alright, the next trophy, this I -!
popular trophy that we do and gi -It's a special trophy.
-!
It's the Barbara Hubbard Memoria -!
And it goes to the driver who do -!
the public image of sled dog rac -!
And I don't think there really s -!
as to who's gettin that this yea -Doug Butler!
-(Applause) -DOUG -Thank you so much.
-This sport is unreal.
-!
All you people are fantastic, yo -!
And like I tell so many people -!
the people in this sport is just -You can't find better people.
-!
Like look at my good buddy Gee t - He's got a sweet wife.
- !
She takes care of me, does every -!
How he ever caught her, I just c -(Laughter) -But thank you, everybody.
-!
You're the greatest people I kno -!
This is the highlight of my life -Thank you.
-(Applause) -Yeah!
-!
Look, I got a trophy.
I got a tr -(Cows mooing) -We saved it, we saved it.
-C'mon.
-(Dogs barking) -C'mon.
-(More barking) -C'mon.
-Sorry.
-No don't die.
C'mon.
-Oh yeah, feel that heart.
-!
Now I can hear the air flowing.
-(Cow sniffles) -CASEY -Did it die?
-DOUG -No.
-DOUG -Little tiny, tiny calf.
-PHONE -!
Good afternoon, Green Mountain P -PHONE -This is Diane.
-!
Diane, Doug Butler here, how are -PHONE -I am good, how are you?
-Cold and nasty.
-!
Shouldn't we be in Hawaii drinki -PHONE -!
Uh I don't mind sitting by the b -PHONE -I'm with ya.
-Ha ha ha!
-That's a good answer.
-I didn't expect that one.
-PHONE -!
OK well what can I help you with -I'd like to pay a $1000 today -!
And then next week, I'll be afte -to make some more payments.
-!
And I'll be paying every week to -I don't know how much.
-!
It could be 500 to 2500 to get u -!
Because I have some money coming -!
but it comes in slower than I wa -PHONE -Now I am gonna ask though... -PHONE -!
now the last payment was back in -PHONE -!
And I'm really stretching it out -PHONE -!
because I should be looking for -!
I'm... seriously, I'm working ver -!
because Green Mountain has worke -!
you know, the past year and a ha -!
when I've been through such a ro -!
you know, it's a great people, g -they've worked with me.
-PHONE -Mhmm.
-PHONE -!
Now what kind of farm is this?
-!
Ok honey, you're in trouble now.
-It's a dairy farm.
-!
My grandparents bought it in 192 -and uh... -I've got a workaholic son.
-PHONE -!
So your son still works on the f -!
Oh he's great.
And his wife, my -!
you couldn't ask for two greater -PHONE -Ugh, you know... -PHONE -!
My family ended up having to sel -PHONE -!
You know, because of tax poor an -DOUG -Yep.
-!
I used to work with Sonny Miller -!
uh years ago there was an older -!
you know, late seventies that... -!
mentally they were good, but phy -!
they just couldn't do it anymore -!
So we picked the cows up and bro -!
to transition 'em to free stall, -!
And and that poor lady was cryin -!
she fell on the ground, I had to -!
and carry her and put her in her -!
because it was like we were taki -PHONE -I know.
-DOUG -!
One of the saddest things in my -PHONE -Yeah.
-DOUG -!
I'll never forget that moment.
-PHONE -!
I, you know, I'm with you.
I'm w -PHONE -!
So um did you want me to take th - Yes, I do, dear.
- !
Otherwise, you know how us dumb -!
We'd be buying beer and going fi -PHONE -(Laughs) -PHONE -!
Have you been hanging out with m -(Laughs) -Give me his number.
-PHONE -!
Well, I think he's going fishing -PHONE -!
and you know he's going to have -(Both laugh) -PHONE -!
Oh Doug, this is a such a great -You're a fun person.
-A really fun lady.
-PHONE -!
I'm getting the account number h -(Dogs barking.)
-DOUG -I'm getting tired, Tommy.
-I'm getting tired.
-@&♪$?&!
%@♪!
-♪$@!
-How's that sound?
-No good bastards.
-Why would people?
-I just don't... -!
I just don't understand all of I -Ok. -Start.
-(Printer beeps) -Now fax.
-(Beep) -Ok, it says on.
-(Beep) -Fax.
-Fax mode.
-(Beep beep beep) -Ugh, come on baby, come on.
-(Beep beep beep.)
-(Beeeeeep) -(Mumbling) -(Beep beep beep) -(Beep beep beep) -(Finger taps) -!
OK, now what am I doing wrong?
-Why am I so stupid?
-LAWYER -477,000 -LAWYER -You owe.
-!
Yeah, and it was down to three s -Now it's jumped to 617,000.
-!I had no idea you had a debt of -No, it's not.
-It's not.
-!
They've added two, three hundred ...
Even 400, I mean it's... -!
On their paperwork it was down t -!
and then in twelve months and ju Yep.
I mean I - -!
And I didn't do business with th -!
Interest went from six, seven hu -!Whatever the figure is, I mean, -!and fought for and dealt with.
-!But it's big enough figure that -!So you gotta make a decision so -!whether you want to sell the pl -!Or whether you really think you -It's... -uh... -pretty hard to see that.
-DOUG -!
You know, I've been down paths o -!
Now I can see why some of them p -!
Depression, losing everything, t -The family farm.
-!
You gotta go through hell before -DOUG -!
I did not expect it to go this w -JOANN -Did or did not?
-DOUG -Did not.
- JOANN (whispering) - !
Are you definitely going dog rac -JOANN -!
Because Casey wasn't sure.
Are y -DOUG -Probably not.
-CASEY -!
I'm sure this guy's gonna quit n -JOANN -He yellin' at him?
-CASEY -Arguing about money... -CASEY -!
This is why I don't know how he -!
There might be no cows here when -And that's not joking.
-CASEY -!
Nobody understands what the ♪$@!
-JOANN -Yes I do.
-CASEY -No, you don't.
-JOANN -Casey... -CASEY -No, you don't, JoAnn.
-JOANN -I know... -CASEY -!
You only hear what he tells you.
-CASEY -You don't... -JOANN -I hear... -JOANN -I listen to you.
-(Wind howling) -(Wind dies down) -DOUG -!
When I got out of college, I was -!
But I was seein' rough times on -and the growing... -!
Y'know the free stall barn milki -!
could easily hold 170, 180 cows.
-!
They were gonna lose the farm, y -So -that's how I jumped into it.
-!
Didn't go to UVM, didn't take a -went back on the farm.
-To save the place.
-And I thought, damn!
-!
If I double, triple the size tha -and keep working up -!
y'know and you're feeding people -!
I'll be a multimillionaire in no -!
Then that winter I went to a dog -and that's when I bought... -my first dog team.
-Started runnin' dogs.
-(Piano music) -JOANN -!
You already said you're not goin -!
But then I changed my mind -I'm g -JOANN -You're not going.
-Yeah I wanna go.
-JOANN -So, okay... you go.
-JOANN -!
If I say he can't go, then he'll -!
Cause it'd be nice to break the -JOANN -!
You're too tired Doug, you got t -JOANN -!
And you gotta be rested a little -DOUG -!
We're headed for Fairbanks, Alas -Are you really?
-!
We're supposed to have been gone -Dog racing?
-Yup.
-Good man.
-!Twenty dogs, four sleds, how ma -DOUG -Forty five hundred.
-!So, Dougie, how long are you go -DOUG -How long are we going?
-!
We'll be gone at least three wee -Very nice.
-PHONE -!
Hello, you have reached the offi -JOANN -!
Calm down.
You're gonna have a h -JOANN -Calm down.
-CASEY -Where's your harnesses?
-They go in the back.
-CASEY -!
If it was me I'd have all your h -!
Then let's put the harnesses her -!
One, two, three, four, five, six -Twenty-two.
-(Emotional laughter) -JOANN -Your dream.
-DOUG -This is hard, here we go.
-Any cars?
-Here we go.
-!
Maybe we got to check something.
-Okay.
-!
Okay, all the girls are in sleep -The goats are out.
-!
We gotta repair that roof when w -!
Nothing out there, my old buddy -(Rock music on the radio) -Yeehaw!
Here we go!
-!
(Inspirational acoustic music) -!
Yeehaw!
Look at all them buildin -♪$@!
$^ ♪@!
-Hey, honey.
-We've got 22 sled dogs on.
-TOLLBOOTH OPERATOR -You've got 22 who?
-Sled dogs.
-Really!?
-!
Sled dogs.
We're going to Fairba -Oh my goodness I wanna go!
-Come on, honey, we got room!
-(Laughter) -(Car horn honks) -(Doug laughs) -(Train horn) -(Doug laughs even harder) -!
There!
Look!
In the road, in a r -There it is!
A caribou!
-Woohoo!
-!
There's one!
First time in my & ♪ -(Laughter) -Hey buddy!
How's it hanging?
-Woo!
-DOUG -!
Just lost the brakes on my dog t -!
We're supposed to be in Fairbank -DOUG -!
I'm a dumb farmer out of state o -!
My farm is just outside of Middl -!
never been off the farm more tha -!
And I got the old junk truck and -!
Christ, I already miss my four l -DOUG -!
In high school... did I tell you -!
I was in the bathroom peeing... -standing at the urinal, -!
then this guy comes in and shove -!
still had my man tool out and al -!
he's gonna hit me or something, -!
and you know my theory -nuts or n -!
So I kicked him in the nuts, he -!
I picked him up, threw him on th -!
and he rolled off the sinks and -and I looked at his buddies, -!
I had to put on my man tool back -and I said OK, who's next?
-!
They were my best friends the re -!
You know, I was a skinny little -!
probably smelled like the north -!
But back then in high school, yo -!
You have to feed calves before y -!
And when you came rushing in the -!
Your breakfast was on the table.
-!
Wash up, change your clothes and -I am sounding old, aren't I?
-(Coyote howls) -(Dogs begin to howl) -(Laughter) -!
(Coyote and dogs howl together) -(Howling finally stops) -(Laughing) -!
Let's follow him down the lake.
-(Music begins to play) -Oh, my ♪&!
@ ♪ word.
-Oh, my ♪&!
@ ♪ word.
-Oh my ♪&!
@ ♪ word, look.
-Oh, my ♪&!
@ ♪ word.
-Ah!
-I didn't expect that.
-Whoa.
-Ugh, ♪&!
@ -Mosquito hit me in the eye.
-Customs -thousand feet.
-Passports.
-(Crow caws) -(Dogs howl) -RADIO BROADCASTER -!
Hey everybody!
It's time for the -RADIO BROADCASTER -!
Open North American Sled Dog Cha -!And we have a new competitor he -And what is your name, sir?
-Doug Butler, the bad guy.
-!Doug Butler the bad guy.
Where -Middlebury, Vermont.
-!Wow, you must have really wante -!
I've been dreaming about this fo -!
and to finally get here and see -it's unexplainable.
-!Tell me about your trip up here -!Have you ever been to Alaska be -No!
No!
-!
I've never been off the far more -Oh wow.
-!
And the dream was to come to thi -!Yeah, this is the granddaddy of -!
I don't care if we're first, las -!
as long as we have a cold beer a -Okay... -a-racing we go.
-RADIO ANNOUNCER -!
GCI Open North American Champion -!
one of the fastest sled dog race -!
and we are broadcasting live fro -!
We've got a 20 mile course today -!
It is a looped course that start -!
Runs 20 miles down through the f -!
and then finishes once again her -!
It's going to be just an excitin -RACE MARSHALL -Here we go.
-DOUG -Hmm?
-Here we go.
-Let's get going.
-!
We've had so much fun already I -Here we go.
-!OK, my only request for you tod -is don't screw this up!
-(Laughter) -!We'll see you at the starting l -Thank you, sir.
-OK. -OK!
-Ooh!
Terry!
-!
This is the biggest race of your -!
so you just have fun, Hamburg.
-You just have fun.
-This is your biggest race.
-See?
You're here.
-You're here.
-!
You're here, buddy, you're here.
-You're here.
-You're here.
-RADIO ANNOUNCER 1 -!
Up next, Doug Butler from Vermon -RADIO 1 -Doug is a rookie right?
-RADIO 2 -!
He is... he is a rookie to this r -RADIO 2 -!
He's well known on the East Coas -RADIO 2 -!
Yeah, he's SO excited to run thi -RADIO 1 -So fun.
So fun.
-RADIO 2 -He said am I too excited?
-RADIO 1 -Am I too excited?
-RADIO -(Laughter) -RADIO -!
Doug giving encouragement to all -RADIO -!
he's got his wraparound shades o -ANNOUNCER -5, 4, 3, 2, 1, -ANNOUNCER -GO!
-DOUG -Yeehaw!
-RADIO -!
Strong take off for Doug Butler -DOUG -Yeehaw!
-DOUG -Good seein' all you folks!
-!
I gotta go chasin' beer and wome -Yeehaw!
-Good babies!
-!
Rock and roll is here to stay.
-DOUG -!
Hey beautiful!
How are you today -RADIO -I - I just saw... -RADIO -!
I just saw Doug Butler reach out -RADIO -grab a beer and crack it.
-DOUG -You ladies want to dance?
-RADIO -!
Doug's got a lot of fans out the -RADIO -!
I mean, I'm a part of his club a -RADIO -I didn't even know.
-Hey folks!
-!
I'm having the time of my life.
-Yeehaw!
-RADIO -Doug Butler... -DOUG -Hurt me, baby!
-RADIO -!
is, uh, having more fun than any -RADIO -!
including the timers, the checkp -RADIO -He is... -RADIO -!
he is having a party out here on -RACE OFFICIAL -!
Oh is that him with the music?
-RACE OFFICIAL -!
And he's like, any ladies want t -(Laughter) -RADIO -!
Yeah, there he is, waving to the -RADIO -!
He snatched the beer like one of -DOUG -!
I'm having a toast to all you fo -Here's to you, beautiful.
-The farm boy made it!
-Yeehaw!
-Thank you, folks!
-Yeehaw!
-Good babies.
-Good babies.
-Good babies.
-Can I have a kiss?
-Yes.
-Can I have a kiss?
-RADIO 1 -!
That about does it folks.
Just a -RADIO 1 -!
Paula Ciniero, give us the final RADIO 2 -All right.
RADIO 2 -!
In 20th place we have Bob Cloupa -RADIO 2 -total time of 300 minutes.
-RADIO 2 -!
In 19th place, we have the party -RADIO 2 -!
In 19th place, we have the party -RADIO 2 -266 minutes, 53.5 seconds.
-RADIO 2 -266, 53.5.
-RADIO 2 -!
In 18th place we have...(voice f -(Doug breathes heavily) -!
Guess I'm gonna have to start ru -aren't I?
Oh man.
-Oh great.
-Great, great.
-RACE OFFICIAL -!
You gave us all a good laugh, we -!Some of these guys got sticks u -Ohhh this is so much fun.
-!We've been watching 'em for for -!
This is, this is fun of a lifeti -!
Doesn't matter if you're first o -Are you going to Tannana?
-Next year.
-Next year?
Not this year?
-!
Nope, now we know what we gotta -!
so we're gonna be back to bother -OK!
-You're in trouble.
-We'll see ya!
-(Crowd murmuring) -DOUG -!
You're number 18, I had to join -!
The sportsmanship award is very -!
and it's important because it's -!
who choose the sportsman of the -So our drivers voted, -!
and the sportsmanship award this -a guy with two names.
-It's either Party on a Sled, -or Hollywood Doug Butler.
-(Applause) -DOUG -Oh, my heavens.
-(Laughter) -Oh my heavens.
-Oh my heavens.
-Thank you so much.
-!
Oh my -should I get on the speake -If you want.
-Oh, oh my god.
-Here we go.
-(Laughter) -Oh my God.
-I don't know what to say.
-I don't know what to say.
-Thank you so much.
-!
When you're a sportsman like me, -!
you know, the bad guy from Vermo -!
The dumb dairy farmer that came -Thank you so much.
-I owe you one.
-Let's have a drink.
-(Applause) -!
Do I want a free drink for this?
-!
Oh, man, I didn't expect this.
-♪&!
@ ♪ $%!
♪ -(Cows mooing) -(Birds chirping) -DOUG -!
The green grass is coming back o -!
I think it's going to get pretty -LAWYER -So your full name... -Douglas Butler.
-!
I'm gonna have a bunch of questi -!I'm sure you will and I'm going -Perfect.
-Fair deal.
-LAWYER -Cash on hand.
-LAWYER -!
How much cash you have in your p -Twelve dollars.
-!Your furnishings in the house.
-!What could you sell them for a -I have no idea.
-Jewelry?
-!Books, pictures, artwork, antiq -Rifles?
-OK... -Clothes.
-!What could you sell your clothe - Vehicles.
- !What do you have in the way of -1995 Ford -3500 dualie.
-Dog truck.
-Any other personal property?
-My dogs.
-!OK, what kind of dogs ya got?
-Racing sled dogs... -OK. -Do I dare mention them?
-Yes.
-You better mention them.
-They keep me sane.
-!Nothing's going to happen to th -OK. -How many?
-Fifty.
-!Are they purebreds or crossbred -Cross.
-!
Husky, German short haired point -!What do you think you could sel -Five hundred apiece.
-DOUG -Come on, babies.
-Hey!
-Come on.
-!
Come on Grandma, I know you're o -Come on.
-!
Come on girls, come on babies.
-Woo!
Look at that udder.
-Woo!
-!
One, two, three, four, five, six -Come on, babies!
-Come on, come on.
-Come on.
-Come on, go!
-AUCTIONEER -!
Right here $1200, number 11 buys -HANDLER -Pen one!
-HANDLER -Next number!
-AUCTIONEER -!
Eighty-six coming in next, 86.
-HANDLER -All bred back, ready to go.
-AUCTIONEER -Wow!
-AUCTIONEER -!
(Starts to call the bid, talking -AUCTIONEER -Right here $690, number 100.
-AUCTIONEER -844 up next here, 844.
-(Bird singing) -!
So we did better than we though -CASEY -That's if my figures add up.
-(Laughing) -CASEY -Twenty-seven, twenty-eight... -CASEY -!
Well that one brought good so we -DOUG -!
You know what my theory is on "n -N. O.
= next opportunity -Here we go.
-But we're talking 650,000 -!
of debt paid off in two weeks... -!
OK, let's sell some feed and go -CASEY -!
Where'd you find that big of one -JOANN -Um, the beverage store.
-DOUG -Well, Joanne, thank you.
-JOANN -!
Those will get us through today.
-DOUG -Definitely.
-JOANN -Wow.
-JOANN -Hmm.
-DOUG -(Laughs) -JOANN -Happy tears, happy tears.
-DOUG -That's right, that's right.
-(Wings flapping) -DOUG -No, I've been depressed.
-!
You know, I've been through depr -Did I tell you that story?
-Big meeting... -and these ladies said Doug... -!
come, let's go in and have a tal -!
They said, OK, we realize you've -They handed me a card... -!
y'know, a farmer suicide card.
-And I said, yeah... -I had a buddy up in Maine -!
wife and two children, did chore -!
wife and two children went in to -!
Dad didn't come in, they went ou -!
Had a buddy in New York put a bu -I said, you know -!
I was gonna jump off Queechee Go -!
but I couldn't afford a Speedo.
-Out the door they went!
-So what kept me going?
-(Barking) -Princey!
-Do I get lovin?
-Oh yes, I do!
-!
Princey, can I have some lovin?
-Yes I do, don't I?
-(Kissing sound) -One more time, Princey?
-Oh yes!
-!
Of course you can lead in Fairba -Of course.
-!
Do you want to go to Fairbanks t -Well of course you will!
-Yes!
As pretty as you are.
-Say that again?
-You want a girlfriend?
-Then you gotta win Fairbanks.
-Lovin!
-(Dog whines) -You want two girl - -!
He wants two girlfriends if he w -(Rock music starts) -(Dogs begin to howl) -!
This is why everybody yells at m -but see the lovin I get?
-Jeezum.
-(More dogs start howling) -!
But don't show or tell nobody, I -(All the dogs howl) -COLTON -!
We should put a camp right here.
-!
We should build a camp right her -!Yeah after you hay it, when it' -!
Then we should watch the sunset.
-Yeah.
-SPEAKER -Who is it?
-!
Doug Butler dropping off some be -DOUG -Did you make my pie?
-Darn it!
-OK. -!
You're in trouble for next week -(Laughing) -!
Do you like strong dogs?
Powerfu -Well, yeah!
-Wait wait wait!
-Wait!
-(Laughing) -Ahhh!
-DOUG -(Laughing) -DOUG -Yeehaw!
-!
If we have a little cash, Fairba -We gotta go back.
Made Here is a local public television program presented by Vermont Public
Sponsored in part by the John M. Bissell Foundation, Inc. | Learn about the Made Here Fund