2026 Lucky Ducky Race and Community Celebration
2026 Lucky Ducky Race Results!
On Sunday, August 23, 2026 at Riverside Park, ducks raced down the Arkansas River to cheering spectators. The rain poured down but the ducks did not mind one bit. Sponsored ducks competed to be able to give away a college scholarship to deserving local students. Citizen's races were a chance for anyone to get in on the action. Local nonprofits did giveaways and fun activities for the kids. The Salida Circus did a wonderful performance.
The sponsors of the top 3 ducks in each category will each have a scholarship granted in their choice of name during the next school year:
Platinum top three: $2,000
Gold top three: $1,500
Silver top three: $1,000
Platinum Winners: 1. HRRMC OR Staff 2. Xcel Energy 3. Commissioner PT Wood
Gold Winners: 1. NAVSYS Corporation 2. Monarch Spur RV Park 3. Chaffee County Printing Center
Silver Winners: 1. Moonlight Goldens 2. Rick Pautz 3. Kathy Freyschlag
Best Decorated Platinum Duck: 1. Commissioner PT Wood 2. KW Restoration and Construction 3. Hippie Radio
A big thank you to our emcee, Dan R, from Hippie Radio!
Thank you to all of our sponsors:
2026 Platinum sponsors: Ascent Eye Care, Banyan Breads, Brad's Alignment and Offroad, Brady's West Garden Center, Brew and Bloom, Colorado Mountain Solar, Commissioner P.T. Wood, Heart of the Rockies Radio, HHSB Family Fund, High Country Bank, HRRMC Operating Room Staff, Kate Woolman State Farm Insurance, Dave, Katie and Cora Krieves, KW Construction, Carol and Jim Melzer, Julie Mordecai, Mountain Mail, Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort, Harry and Deb Payton, Peak to Peak Pickleball Club, Carmon and Andrew Popler, Cecil Rhodes, Signature Estate and Investment Advisors, Xcel Energy. Also special thanks to Larry Moskow and Don Dubin for their generous donations!
2026 Gold sponsors: Altamont Landscaping, Chaffee Printing Center, Chaffee Tire and Wheel, Mike and Jan Close, Cheryl Faust (2 gold sponsorships), Collegiate Peaks Bank, Herks Werks, High Country Home Inspectors, Mandala Financial Advisors, Mo Burrito, Monarch Spur RV Park, Napa Auto Parts of Salida, NAVSYS Corporation, Laura Pomerenke and Ed Colt, Principle Law, Red Tail Ventures, Melinda and Jim Robertson, Robin's Restaurant, Jan Schmidt and David Evans, Michelle Smith, Stotler and Young PC, Charles and Denise Washer, Waste Management of Salida, World Literature Book Club.
2026 Silver sponsors: Absolute Bikes, Badfish, The Boathouse, Chill Salida, Currents Steak and Seafood, Oren Dreeben and Melodee Kennington, Janet Franz and David Moore, Kathy Freyschlag, Grund Investment Group, Chris and Marcia Hazlitt, Jeanne and Randy Herrick-Stare, Kaleidoscope Toys, Becky and Scott Leonard, Lund Eye Care Associates, Jerry and Debbie McCabe, Moonlight Goldens LLC, Morning Sage Wellness, Mountain Valley Transit, Gary and Debby Olson, Rick Pautz, Julie Richardson, Bill and Susan Roser, Rupp Worldwide, Salida Ace Hardware, Vital Living.