By Paige Nash

Crowds convened to cheer on their Duck Derby contenders as they raced along Minden Main Street this past Monday, July 3. 

More than 1,400 plastic ducklings were sold to anyone willing to put a few bucks on the line for a chance to score an even bigger prize, but only three lucky ducks made it through the multiple rounds of heat races and into the finals.  

Despite the odds, Allen Gilbert’s choice brought in a first-place win followed by Jeff Lee’s favorite pick in second place, then rounding out the top three was Linda Ovitt’s best bet duckling. 

Even though the Duck Derby was the main attraction, there were loads of other things to do including a dance-off, Watermelon seed spitting contest, water slides, bounce houses and food trucks. 

Another highlight that attracted anyone with a set of eyes was the “Celebrity” Pie Eating Contest. Local community leaders such as Minden Police Chief Jared McIver, Deputy Chief Tokia Whiting, Judge Sherb Sentell, banking expert Greg Lee and Minden Mayor Nick Cox. 

According to Cox, he has “trained for this moment his whole life”, but he came up just a few pies behind Sentell and Lee who may have had less practice, but better technique. The duo could not be convinced to enter a tiebreaker round, so they both took home a prize – a stomach full of whipped cream and bragging rights.  

Finishing up on a high note, families settled in on blankets and lawn chairs to watch the fireworks display that concluded the schedule of events line-up for the 2023 Duck Derby Extravaganza.