By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
There is still time to buy your ducks for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Derby on Aug 8. at the Hays Aquatic Park.
There will be thousands of ducks racing around the Lazy River at Hays Aquatic Park. The festivities will be 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The ducks will be split into heats of about 2,500 ducks per heat. The top 500 ducks (from each heat) will get to compete in the big Championship Race. Prizes will be awarded to the first 10 ducks crossing the finish line at the Championship Race.
This year’s grand prize is a 2017 Nissan Versa.
Other prizes include Royals tickets, tickets to the Wildcat Classic, Bronson Traeger Grill, Amazon Echo and
six months of high-speed Internet, two all-sport FHSU general admission tickets, $250 Walmart gift card, golf outing, wine gift basket and beauty gift basket.
All proceeds from the event go to supporting the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County’s mentoring programs.
Jenny Bates, BBBS director, said at a recent Rotary meeting the local chapter currently has 130 matches.
“That means there are 130 volunteers in the community that are spending their time loving on these kids, just helping them and letting them know that they can get out of what is going on and do more,” she said.
Bates told the story of one young man who had a difficult home life. His mother was disabled and his older brother struggled with addiction. His Big mentor helped him get signed up for football.
“He made friends through that and was able to feel as if he was included in something and a part of something,” Bates said. “When he first started in the program to talk to him, he would never make eye contact.”
By the time this young man graduated, he had started to come out of his shell, and you could make eye contact with him, she said.
“When you are supporting the Duck Derby and adopting ducks to win these amazing prizes, you are also supporting these kids in the community, who need that help,” Bates said.
Bates also read a thank you note from a young lady who recently graduated high school. She had been matched since she was 5 along with her siblings in the BBBS program. She will be attending FSHU to study nursing.
“Thank you for all you do for the Bigs and Littles involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program,” she wrote.
You can adopt ducks at Bank of Hays, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Car Zone, Downtown Hays Development, Eagle Radio, Golden Plains Credit Union, Hays Hobby Shop, James Motor Company and Kwik Shop.
Cost for ducks:
Single Duck – 1 Duck for $5
Gaggle – 6 Ducks for $25 (1 free)
Flock – 12 Ducks for $50 (2 free)
Colony – 25 Ducks for $100 (5 free)
The Duck Derby Race is sponsored by Paul Wertenberger Construction & Insurance Planning. The Duck Dash is sponsored by the Cooper Family. Eagle Communications is a presenting sponsor.
There will be a Duck Dash for children younger than 12 years of age with brightly colored ducks sold for $2 per duck. There is no limit on number of ducks that can be bought. Each child will get to keep one of their ducks after the race to take home. The grand prize for the Duck Dash is a $125 gift certificate to Escape Hays. See the BBBS website for details on other prizes.
Grilled hot dogs, chips and water will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. sponsored by Midwestern Pipeworks and served by Horizon Appliance
Other children’s activities will include a Hula Hoop contest and duck waddle races sponsored by by Aflac and Bieker Insurance Agency.
Back again this year is the cardboard boat races dubbed the Western Well Regatta.
Businesses and teams of individuals are encouraged to build a “yacht” made solely of cardboard and duct tape to race in the Soggy Bottom Challenge. There will be four races with six boats participating in each race. The winner of each race will be awarded a Pizza Party for their business and receive five complimentary entries in the Duck Race. The boat with the fastest time will have the honor of naming the Soggy Bottom Challenge next year. Entry fee is $500. Call at 785-625-6672 for more information.