Not quacking around: SJWC's Duck Derby raises money for good causes

Carla Slavey, Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, Ky.
Updated ·2 min read

May 6—It was lovely weather for a duck, even if they were waterproof without their rain gear.

Saturday morning saw a few sprinkles of rain, but not enough to put a damper on the Somerset Junior Woman's Club's (SJWC) second annual Duck Derby.

Around 350 rubber ducks raced down the creek at Eubank Park, with the winners earning their owners some bills — cash that is.

They were cheered on by a crowd of on-lookers, some of whom used duck whistles to quack encouragement.

Lindsay Bunner, second vice president of the SJWC, explained how the winners were determined.

"We kind of just put a stick down in the creek, and determined that was our finish line," she said. "Then, we had five of our members, and we were each assigned a duck to pick up. So once a duck crossed that point, we scooped that duck and those were our winners."

Cash prizes went to first, second and third places, with Fern Sewell's duck receiving first place and $500, Marsha Vanhook's duck taking second and earning $300, and Rose Bush's duck took third and a $100 prize.

Samantha Combs, the Duck Derby coordinator, said she thought Saturday's rain would hurt the event, but she was pleasantly surprised by the size of the crowd that turned up.

"I think it went great," she said. "We had a lot turn out, a lot of vendors come. It's grown exponentially since last year, and that makes us really proud, that we're able to grow it each year."

She did not have an exact figure as to how much SJWC collected in the charity event, but said that the proceeds will be divided among three local animal rescue groups: The Liberty Nature Center, the Somerset-Pulaski County Humane Society and Hope for All Pets, Inc. (HAPI).

"I'm excited to see how much we get to give (them)," Combs said. "I think all three of them, they really need the community's help."

Parking was at the Senior Center, next to Eubank Park, and Combs thanked the city for its help in hosting the event.

She also thanked the Eubank Fire Department, which ensured the ducks had plenty of water to swim in by flooding the creek for the race.

"We're really grateful for that," Combs said. "They're really good with our community. They do a lot for our community."

She added, "I want to thank Forcht Bank, which brought out the free ice cream, City Slickers Dawgs, the Bookmobile (from the Pulaski County Library), Frog Pond, Here's 2 Life Customs, JAG from Somerset High School, Connect, Melonie Williams from Lil Shoppe, and Jonathan New for singing."

Bunner also expressed her thanks for those who turned up for the event.

"Hopefully next year our event will be bigger and better, and more people will come out and join us," she said.