By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The spectacle of thousands of rubber ducks racing down the lazy river and sprinting and splashing the cardboard boat races will be featured at the ninth-annual Hays Duck Derby Wednesday at the Hays Aquatic Park.
Hosted by Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Ellis County, this year's Duck Derby aims to promote the nonprofit's efforts in matching kids with mentors.
"It's a fun community event. A lot of people attend especially to watch those boat races and cheer on the different teams, all to support Big Brothers Big Sisters," said Jenny Bates, director of the Ellis County group.
Set for 5:30 to 7 p.m., ducks are divided into two heats, with the top 500 ducks from each heat to compete in the championship race for a grand prize of $10,000.
The owners of the next nine ducks to cross the finish line after the first-place winner will also receive prizes such as a $300 Walmart gift card, a PKGO Hibachi Grill, an iRobot Roomba, two round-trip airline tickets or an iPad.
Rubber ducks are available for "adoption" until 5:50 p.m., just before the race begins at 6 p.m. Ducks can be purchased for $5 each, $25 for six ducks, $50 for a dozen, and $100 for 25 ducks.
Bates said even though the Duck Derby is an annual event, seeing more than 5,000 ducks float down the lazy river is still a spectacle.
"This is our ninth year doing it, but dumping those ducks down the slide and watching them go around is amazing," Bates said.
A Duck Dash will be conducted for kids 17 years old and younger, featuring brightly colored ducks sold for $3 each. Children get to keep their ducks after the race and prizes will be awarded to the top 35 winners of the race.
The first-place prize is a four-hour inflatable rental from Grand True Value Rental, followed by a 2025 season pass to Hays Aquatic Park, a year's worth of weekly Happy Meals from McDonald's, JBL earbuds from Nex-Tech Wireless and numerous gift cards from local businesses.
You can find more information on the Duck Derby and buy your ducks here. Ducks can also be purchased at Eagle Media, 2300 Hall.
The Forward Ever Always Cardboard Regatta-Race for a Cause will showcase businesses and organizations constructing boats that will sink or float on their way to the finish line.
"The teams get pretty spirited and into it. We give out a best-in-show award, a spirit award and a Titanic award because there are usually two or three boats that barely make it off the site," she said.
Entry into the boat race is $500, and only 18 spots are available. There will be three races in the lap pool, with up to six businesses competing in each race.
Boats can be painted and decorated, but only cardboard and duct tape may be used in their construction. Boat entries are accepted until Aug. 7.
Teams will receive four free meal tickets to The Local Food Truck, which will be on site. The team with the fastest overall time will earn naming rights for the 2025 Cardboard Regatta. Prizes will be awarded to the fastest team in each heat.
You can download an entry form and find more information on the cardboard regatta here. The full list of participants so far is below:
- Werth Wealth Management
- Hays Police Department – sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Hays
- High Plains Farm Credit
- Cloud Storage
- Adams Brown
- Happy's Auto
- Astra Bank
- High Plains Baptist Church
- EnerSys
- Youth Action Council – Heartland Community Foundation
- Hays Fire Department – sponsored by Thirsty's
- Bethesda Place – sponsored by Cornerstone Orthodontics
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs youth facing adversity with caring adult mentors in one-to-one relationships to inspire self-confidence, improve academic performance and create dreams for the future.
Bates said the nonprofit organization is always seeking mentors and volunteers to spend time with one of the more than 40 kids enrolled and waiting to be paired.
The organization has 150 matches and serves Ellis County, Russell County, Rooks County, Trego County and Rush County.
"The Duck Derby is to raise funds to help continue the program in serving the kids in our community who are in need of a positive mentorship," she said.
Former director Nancy Jeter introduced the idea of the Duck Derby to Hays, hosting the first event in 2016 after her retirement in 2015.
The event is sponsored by Paul-Wertenberger Construction, Insurance Planning, Midwestern Pipeworks, John O. Farmer, New Connections Mental Health, Commercial Sign and Eagle Media.
Bates said all prizes have been donated by local businesses, making it possible for Big Brothers Big Sisters to continue supporting the community.
"When you adopt those ducks, it's 100% going back to Big Brothers Big Sisters and to support the program," she said.
You can find more information on the Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters website and follow them on Facebook.