By Marilyn Miller
The 7th Annual Duck Derby Extravaganza, sponsored by the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, July 3, 2025, got into full swing in downtown Minden at 5 p.m. with the opening of vendor tents, food trucks, and two water slides.
The events kicked off at 5:45 p.m. with the Lil Quacker Children’s Parade, followed by the Sage Community Fitness Kid’s Competition.
Precisely at 6:35 p.m., six of Minden’s “celebrity” food eaters lined up in front of the Minden Civic Center to show their skills at chowing down on a bowl full of spaghetti (thankfully, no meatballs were involved).
However, unknown to the six contestants, this year’s event featured a new twist — blindfolds! Chamber president Stephanie Barnette announced the new feature just before timer Mark Chreene “blew the starting whistle.”
So, the blindfolded competitors, Minden Mayor Nick Cox, financier and Man of the Year Tracy Campbell, community activist Michael Walker, WP School Board Personnel Director, Dr. Rebecca Wilson, WP Clerk of Court Holli Vining, and Glenbrook Apache Princess Scarlett O’Glee “felt” their way through a bowl of spaghetti with three minutes on the timer.
And in two minutes flat, Tracy Campbell picked up an empty bowl and passed it over his head like a wrestler showing off a prize belt.
Bartlette presented him with a trophy on behalf of the Chamber, but his greatest win was the admiration of the other five contestants…and some relief.
A short time later, the derby was put on a weather hold when a lightning and thunderstorm battered the festival grounds. The derby was completed later that night.
