What Western States 100 means to one Saskatchewan farmer
Stuart Chutter was selected by The Active Joe, a Western States 100 sponsor, for the way he shows up—on the farm, in his community and on the trail
courtesy of Stuart Chutter
For a Saskatchewan farmer who spends his days thinking about soil health, crop diversity and long-term, sustainable systems, being selected to run the Western States 100 came as a shock. “Ahhhhh. I still can’t believe it,” Stuart Chutter told Canadian Running. “In my eyes, Western States is the Olympics of ultras. I feel like this year I am going to the Olympics.”
Chutter has been chosen by The Active Joe, a Texas-based non-profit that focuses on running outreach and building community through fun, affordable events, to represent the brand at this year’s Western States Endurance Run, one of ultrarunning’s most established and competitive races. Held annually in California, the 100-mile event follows historic trails from Olympic Valley to Auburn and is the oldest 100-mile race in North America.
Farming, running and long horizons
Chutter describes himself simply: “I am a Canadian farmer and ultrarunner.” He grows Saskatoon berries and forage crops for livestock grazing and practices regenerative agriculture. “Soil health and long runs are a big part of my life,” he says.
Asked what farming carries into his Western States build, he points to mindset. “So much. I could go on for days about the parallels,” he says. “But really, it’s the mindsets of growth, problem-solving, and an unwillingness to see limitations. Even if we don’t know the answer now, it will come.”
“The agriculture world and ultra-running world are the type I seek out in building a life,” he says. “Those who are actively chasing potential—whether in boots or in runners—I want to run mine down with them.”
A fast education in ultras
Chutter’s entry into ultrarunning began during the COVID pandemic with an attempted marathon. From there, things accelerated quickly: multiple 100-mile finishes, followed by races of 200 miles and beyond.
What stands out most to him isn’t distance, but people. “I think when I invite ‘normal’ people into the ultra world, I love that part,” Chutter says. “Anytime I’ve recruited one of them to come crew or pace or be involved in an ultra, I love seeing them experience the magic of it.” He remembers his mother crewing at her first ultra. “She said something like, ‘I get it now. I can see why you love this.’”
Visibility, rural life and representation
As an openly gay farmer and runner, Chutter is aware of the importance of visibility, especially in rural areas. “I think rural places have some of the best people in the world,” he says. “But the probabilities of exposure to diversity and personalization of all sorts of different people is less.” That applies to ultrarunning, too. “There might be reflex judgments of being crazy or quacky or unreasonable,” he says. “Visibility is important.”
Chutter has earned a reputation on the trail as the jam supplier at races like Montana’s Crazy Mountain 100. “I have jam,” he says. “And every aid station needs jam for PBJs!” More seriously, he’s clear about what this Western States opportunity represents.
“Lots of runners get to Western States with Golden tickets, and that is amazing,” he says. “But I think I have something better. I have a whole community that believes in me at The Active Joe. That is a powerful thing, and I am so very grateful.”
