(Video by Cooper Slough)
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
“It was so great to see it all come together. It was amazing!”
Ellis County Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Executive Director Jenny Bates’ smile was ear to ear as she reflected Wednesday evening on the success of the inaugural Hays Duck Derby at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP).
It’s a new fundraiser for BBBS and will replace the annual Christmas 4 Kids telethon held in early December.
All 5,000 bright yellow toy ducks were sold for the derby races and there were 15 cardboard canoes whose builders paid an entrance fee to the Soggy Bottom Challenge, according to Bates. Children under 13 also purchased ducks for a separate Duck Dash.
All proceeds, including those from the hot dog feed held just west of HAP under the shady trees on the lawn of Early Childhood Connections, go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.
“A little more than $45,000 was raised,” Bates was able to announce late Thursday afternoon. “I just can’t believe it!”
“This funding helps us match kids (Littles) in our program who need a volunteer (Bigs)–a special person in their life–just to help them with everyday things that they’re going through,” said Bates. “This fundraiser helps us to be able to do that–screen volunteers, make the matches and then support the matches throughout their entirety.
“Our longest match right now is 10 years. It’s amazing the things we get to see every day in our office, and the impact it’s making on kids here in our community.”
Still, added Bates, “there are 40 kids waiting to be matched with a Big Brother or a Big Sister. We always need more volunteers.”
Volunteers were swarming all over the Hays Aquatic Park last night, with a large contingent from the Hays First Methodist Church and its youth group.
“We had no idea what to expect for this first time,” Bates said with a delightful laugh.
Bates said the HAP employees counted 650 people coming through the front entrance of HAP and another 300 or so people went through the east gates where the cardboard canoes were on display in the parking lot before the event started.
It was a long list of contributors read throughout the evening by emcees Gary Shorman and Mike Koerner of Eagle Communications, and Nancy Jeter. Jeter retired in December as the BBBS executive director and still serves as a volunteer. She came up with the idea of the duck derby fundraiser.
Bates thanked them all.
“We couldn’t have done without them–so many donors, volunteers and great partners who support Big Brothers Big Sisters,” she said.
Check back with Hays Post for more coverage of the fun and excitement at the Hays Duck Derby.
DUCK DASH WINNERS
1. Carrico Bike – Kylie Leiker *
2. Carrico Bike – Isaac Moreno *
3. Carrico Bike – Jess Schwein *
4. McDonald’s Happy Meal Every Week for 1 year – Rocquel Clingingsmith
5. 2017 Season Pass to Hays Aquatic Park – Gail Kuehl *
6. 8 Miniature Golf Passes to Precision Valley – Caleb Ridder
7. Family Night Out Bowling to Centennial Lanes – Timothy Huls *
8. Sternberg Museum Family Membership for 1 year – Sam Allen *
9. Yellow Duck Alarm – Gail Kuehl *
10. Jumbo Inflatable Duck – Emily McEwan *
Happy Meal with Dessert –
11. Judith Isbell *
12. Nichole Dreiling *
13. Emma Kessler *
14. Cameron Daughtee *
15. Steve Paul *
16. Steve Paul *
17. Nelson Handle *
18. Isaac Martinez *
19. Georgia Weems *
20. Zach Chance *
21. Shaun Musil *
22. Jenny Molstad
23. Jenny Molstad
24. Lanie Garcia
25. Connor Schmidt
26. Erin Ruder *
27. Willow Swagerty *
28. Reilly Leiker *
29. Kinley Sprenkle *
30. Alleynah McVey *
SOGGY BOTTOM CHALLENGE AWARDS
Best of Show Award: Lang Diesel
Spirit Award: Downing-Nelson Oil – Miss Liberty
Titanic Award: Paul-Wertenberger Construction
SOGGY BOTTOM RACES
Race # 1 Challengers: Hays Hobby Shop, Bank of Hays, John O. Farmer Oil, Williams Real Estate, Happy’s Auto, Paul Wertenberger Construction
Winner of Boat Race #1: John O. Farmer
Race # 2 – Challengers: APAC, Downing-Nelson Oil, Glassman Corporation, Western Well, Lang Diesel
Winner of Boat Race #2: Glassman Corporation
Race # 3 – Challengers: Lifetime Dental, Northwestern Printers, Walmart, Ellis County Sheriff
Winner of Boat Race #3: Ellis County Sheriff
Boat with the fastest time and overall winner with Naming Rights for next year’s Soggy Bottom Challenge:
John O. Farmer
DUCK DERBY WINNERS
Duck #14 – Honora Freshwater Pearl Bracelet (3) – Diamond R Jewelry (Dustin Roths)
Winner: Rebecca Kuehl
Duck #13 – $100 Gift Card, Pullover & Bag from Hays Car & Truck Alignment (Jim Werth)
Winner: Kathy Harper
Duck #12 – Adams Blue 10.5 Rt Hand Driver golf club – Precision Valley (Landon Paul)
Winner: Scott McGrath
Duck #11 – Country Stampede 2017 tickets – 4) multi tickets (Jeff Copper)
Winner: Don Burlison
Duck #10 – Kansas City Royals Tickets (4) – Eagle Radio (Todd Lynd)
Winner: Pam Mayers
Duck #9 – Colorado Rockies Tickets (4) – Eagle Communications
Winner: Ann Stivers
Duck #8 – Adidas Sunglasses – Dr. Michael Hattan & Dr. Anthony Taylor
Winner: Raleen Grandy
Duck #7 – $250 Walmart Gift Card – Walmart
Winner: Shelli Jones
Duck #6 – Yeti 30 Hopper Cooler & 2 Yeti Cups – Jeff Copper
Winner: Marty Patterson
Duck #5 – Bronson Traeger Grill – sponsored & presented by Crawford Supply (Mark Washburn)
Winner: Kenton & Carol Oliff
Duck #4 – Porta-Bote – sponsored & presented by Mid Kansas Auto Auction (Trevor Ottley)
Winner: Ronan Sramek
Duck #3 – Sprint Center Suite for Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Game. Includes tickets for 12 & 2 parking passes; Sponsored by Sizewise
Winner: Alan Moore
Duck #2 – 1 week vacation to cabin in Black Hills South Dakota sponsored & presented by Randy & Tammy Walker
Winner: Dirae Boyd
Duck #1 Grand Prize – 2014 Red Ford Fiesta, 10,000 miles and still under warranty. Sponsored & presented by: James Motor Company (Stan Dreiling), Hays Chevrolet (Wayne Kieffer), Auto World (Dick Werth), Car Zone (Greg Werth), Lewis Automotive Group of Hays (Ross Harms), Happy’s Auto (Camron Walter), Mid Kansas Auto Auction (Trevor Ottley)and Lang Diesel (Brian Lang)
Winner: Al Downing