From left, Emery Rotigem, 6, Emerson Chamberlain, 5, and volunteer Jim Melzer collect gold-sponsored ducks from the river for Salida Sunrise Rotary’s Lucky Ducky race Aug. 24. With low water levels, the race course was moved farther into the river, resulting in a speedier race.
The winners of the platinum-sponsored 2025 Lucky Ducky race, hosted by Salida Sunrise Rotary, were (first) Dr. Harry and Debra Payton’s duck, (second) Kate Woolman with State Farm’s duck and (third) Relaxation Dental’s duck. The event raised more than $21,000 for local scholarships. (Photo by Lijah Sampson)
Rich Delong, left, of Colorado Parks and Wildlife educates Joey Piscopio, 9, and Eli Piscopio, 7, about the river Aug. 24 at the Salida Sunrise Rotary Club Lucky Ducky event. Joey said he learned that cfs stands for cubic feet per second.
From left, Archer Gardner, 4, Charles Gardner, 3, and Charlotte Battaglia, 1, play with the duck pump at the Lucky Ducky event Aug. 24 in Riverside Park. Archer said their game is called “Race the duckies” and to play, “you pump the hose and then it goes down and then it comes back here.”
Emily Cuiksa, 14, performs the “pencil double star” trick on the silks for the Salida Circus performance at the Lucky Ducky event Aug. 24 in Riverside Park. Cuiksa has been practicing on the silks for six years and said this was her favorite trick of the day.
From left, Emery Rotigem, 6, Emerson Chamberlain, 5, and volunteer Jim Melzer collect gold-sponsored ducks from the river for Salida Sunrise Rotary’s Lucky Ducky race Aug. 24. With low water levels, the race course was moved farther into the river, resulting in a speedier race.
The winners of the platinum-sponsored 2025 Lucky Ducky race, hosted by Salida Sunrise Rotary, were (first) Dr. Harry and Debra Payton’s duck, (second) Kate Woolman with State Farm’s duck and (third) Relaxation Dental’s duck. The event raised more than $21,000 for local scholarships. (Photo by Lijah Sampson)
Rich Delong, left, of Colorado Parks and Wildlife educates Joey Piscopio, 9, and Eli Piscopio, 7, about the river Aug. 24 at the Salida Sunrise Rotary Club Lucky Ducky event. Joey said he learned that cfs stands for cubic feet per second.
From left, Archer Gardner, 4, Charles Gardner, 3, and Charlotte Battaglia, 1, play with the duck pump at the Lucky Ducky event Aug. 24 in Riverside Park. Archer said their game is called “Race the duckies” and to play, “you pump the hose and then it goes down and then it comes back here.”
Emily Cuiksa, 14, performs the “pencil double star” trick on the silks for the Salida Circus performance at the Lucky Ducky event Aug. 24 in Riverside Park. Cuiksa has been practicing on the silks for six years and said this was her favorite trick of the day.
With the water level being lower than usual, the duckies in Salida Sunrise Rotary’s Lucky Ducky race had their course moved farther into the current of the Arkansas River next to Riverside Park Aug. 24, resulting in a speedy finish.
The event raised more than $21,000 for Salida Sunrise Rotary’s community scholarships.
Among the platinum sponsors, Dr. Harry and Debra Payton’s duck finished first. Kate Woolman with State Farm’s duck placed second, and Relaxation Dental’s duck took third.
Winners in the gold-sponsored duck race were High Country Home Inspectors, first; Michelle and Doug Smith, second; and Holiday RV, third.
Silver race winners were Broken String Guitars, first; David Moore, second; and Rupp Worldwide, third.
Gary Olson, race director, said of the water level, “It actually worked out. It’s actually faster than any other year.” With the recent rain, the river was also muddier than past years.
Olsen also thanked the local Boy Scouts, who helped to run the ducks back and forth. “They’re a big help,” he said.
Carmon Popler, co-chair of the duck race with Carol Melzer and a member of the Rotary’s Charitable Fund board, said there were a ton of new platinum sponsors this year, and “they’ve really gotten into it.” The platinum sponsors who decorated their ducks seemed to have really enjoyed decorating, she said. “I love how the businesses incorporate what they do.”
Poplar said a couple of her favorites included Colorado Mountain Solar, whose duck was decorated like a sun, and Relaxation Dental, because “if you look closely, it’s decorated with teeth.”
The public voted on the best decorated ducks. In the platinum category KW Construction & Restoration won for the second year in a row with its shark duck. In the gold category the best decorated was a ninja turtle sponsored by Mandala Financial Advisors and decorated by Kaylah at Salida Boys & Girls Club.
Salida Circus performed at the event and various nonprofits lined the sidewalk through the park, providing information and freebies to attendees.
The event also included a bouncy house and a duck pump with mini ducks for kids.
Archer Gardner, 4, called the pump game “race the duckies.”
“You pump the hose and then it goes down and then it comes back here,” he explained.
Rich Delong, who was manning the Colorado Parks and Wildlife tent, said he had fun with the kids, and “I enjoyed seeing the whole community come out.” CPW plans to up its prizes for next year, he added.
After the event Popler said she enjoyed when “everyone just really got into it at the end and were cheering on the ducks — and it didn’t rain.”
The scholarships will go to local graduating seniors and will be presented during the annual scholarship night in May at Salida High School. Funds that do not go toward scholarships will be given to local nonprofits.
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