Fiesta Days Adopt-A-Duck race is a success

r Since 2005 the Spanish Fork Fire Fighters Association has used the “Adopt-A-Duck” race as a successful fundraiser for the local community. After expenses are paid they usually have about $4,000 left over for several projects. They donate funds to city hall to anonymously help financially challenged families with winter utility bills. They also sponsor young men and women going to the American Legion Auxiliary Boys and Girls State leadership and citizenship programs.

The 2017 Adopt-A-Duck Race is now history, with all 2,000 plastic ducks from the Spanish Fork Fire Fighters Association adopted. The race has two categories, age 13 and older and age 12 and under. The ducks for 13 and above are slightly larger than those for the 12 and below kids. Also, the ducks for the older kids and adults have black firefighter hats.

The ducks were put in the Spanish Fork River at the Main Street Bridge for the older entrants and at the foot bridge near the Sports Park for the younger people. While drifting down the river some of the plastic ducks get caught in the brush along the edge and the firefighters are there for the rescue. For this they call themselves “duck herders.” The race ended as the ducks crossed into the catch basin near the West Park River Bridge.

Several thousand dollars in prize money was won by some lucky people who will probably adopt a duck from the Spanish Fork Fire Fighters Association during next year’s Fiesta Day event.