Rubber Ducks took to the Illinois River during the fifth annual Duck Race-Let those ducks fly!
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Cynthia Haggitt
Calhoun News-Herald
Photo courtesy of Diane Brangenberg
The Queens collected the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place ducks and carried them to the prize table on Sunday, Oct. 3 at the Fifth Annual Duck Race.
The ducks took a dive and flew off the bridge this past Sunday, at approximately 3 p.m., but before the race families had plenty to do before the main event happened. It’s not just the Duck Race, it has become a day of festivities loved by all. The Duck Race has a lot to do for everyone. If a person went to the races all a person had to do was venture down to the Hardin riverfront on Water Street and they could enjoy food, vendors and plenty of activities for children. All of this leads up to the moment the ducks take the plunge into the river at 3 p.m.
Danielly Hurley said, “More than 3500 ducks have already been sold, but that number will go up most likely before the race. “Ducks were on sale until about 2 p.m. the day of the race.” Ducks were bought individually, in quack packs or in whole flocks. An individual duck is $5, six ducks is $25 or the “flock” of 13 ducks is $50. Hurley said a total of 3543 ducks were sold and that talley was done after the race.“And the payout is worth it, with 10 percent of the entire proceeds going to the fastest duck,” she said. What isn’t handed off to the winner goes toward St. Norberts school, helping to offset tuition costs and pay for other costs and expenses throughout the year. Hurley mentioned that the committee was worried, because they didn’t have all of the festival requirements needed such as food, games for the kids, no beverage vendor or even shopping vendors. “When we started planning we had nothing lined up. It was exciting to see the community come together and help out. I am just completely overwhelmed at the response that we got, said Hurley. “We ended up having hot dogs, nachos, lemonade shake-ups, shopping vendors, a fall display, raffle drawing, 50/50 drawing and Big John’s supplied the beverages.” She said, “The Knights of Columbus (KC) were having their chicken dinner drive thru fundraiser and they moved it to the firehouse which was near the race. People were so glad about this because they were able to have a decent meal.”
Photo courtesy of Diane Brangenberg
Calhoun royalty release the ducks into the Illinois River from the Joe Page Bridge.
Hurley said this is one of their biggest fundraisers for the year, and like with other organizations in the area the pandemic has caused alot of havoc on social gatherings. Plans are already in the works for next year and there is talk of having more vendors, the KC drive-thru dinner may be held there, CHS may have a fundraiser there and there is talk of having some things for the kids like cotton candy or kettlecorn vendors.The luck ducks who won the duck race were:James Jacob-Winner of the race with a grand prize of $1494.
■ Sara Pohlman- Second place winner
■ Angie Suhling-Third place winner
■ Yavonne Macauly-Last place winner
■ Karen Baalman-Fall display winner
■ Father Roberts- The 50/50 ticket winner
Jarrod Jarmon/Calhoun News- Herald
On Sunday, Oct. 3, 2019, thousands of ducks were dumped into the Illinois River off the Joe Page Bridge for the Fifth Annual Duck Race.
