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There was a good crowd at Hafen Park last Saturday, March 28, and participants attended to cheer on their ducks to the finish line in Hafen Pond. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

With 451 rubber ducks purchased for an annual race, you would think that the chances of a repeat winner would be slim. Not so much for the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Ducky Derby held at the Hafen Park pond.

Blake Syndergaard and Nancy Hewett with the Mesquite Chamber, left, congratulate the race winner, Loretta Green, right as she stands with Derby the Duck. Green’s husband was the big winner of the day as three of his six ducks won prizes. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

Blake Syndergaard and Nancy Hewett with the Mesquite Chamber, left, congratulate the race winner, Loretta Green, right as she stands with Derby the Duck. Green’s husband was the big winner of the day as three of his six ducks won prizes. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

This year’s first place winner in the relatively short race was once again Councilman Rich Green, who was absent this year. His wife, and newly selected Ms. Senior Mesquite Loretta, was on hand to collect his prize money.

But it didn’t end there for the Greens, as two more of his ducks were selected for consolation prizes. The first, a kids-themed basket donated by the Kids for Sports Foundation, was donated to a lucky boy at the event who’s face was painted like a duck. The second was for a basket of goodies from Danielle’s Chocolates, which Loretta also donated to a little girl. The Greens definitely appeared to have bought the luckiest ducks.

The Virgin Valley Theatre Group’s entry for the Duck Around Town contest one first place at the Ducky Derby last Saturday. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

The Virgin Valley Theatre Group’s entry for the Duck Around Town contest one first place at the Ducky Derby last Saturday. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

The second place winner in the race was Sandra Ramaker, while one of Betty Paulus’s ducks came in third. Paulus also had another duck chosen for one of the baskets. A prize was also given to the duck that seemed to have many troubles throughout the race, resulting in its last-place finish. Ready Golf and Gear, the owner of that unlucky duck, managed to snag a small prize of their own in the festivities.

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Ms. Senior Mesquite Loretta Green was out and about for one of her first events since being crowned on March 28. Here she is with ‘Derby the Duck’ a.k.a. Mern Hafen who was on hand to help out the Chamber at last Saturday’s Ducky Derby at Hafen Park. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

The winner of the Duck Around Town prize went to the Virgin Valley Theatre Group’s “Duck be a Lady” entry which had a manikin dressed up with a duck face, and the title song playing on repeat as well. Most artistic went to Phyllis Litman’s “Aloha from Koloah” while Desert Oasis Spa and Salon won for Most Humerous with a duck who was having a major hair and makeup crisis.