Some 3,268 ducks turned the waters of Butternut Creek yellow on Saturday, Sept. 5, marking a successful 2026 Duck Derby Fundraiser for the Blairsville Police Department’s Shop With A Cop for Christmas Program.
People of all ages turned up to the Union County Farmers Market to watch the rubber waterfowl race for the finish line.
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Kids and adults alike followed along the banks shortly after the ducks were released from their tractor escort’s bucket over the bridge. Unfortunately, not as many tickets sold this year as compared to in the past, but there were more prizes – 208 to be exact.
“This is our first Duck Derby, and it’s really exciting and it’s so cute,” said Darlene Kaman, who, together with her husband John, joined a small party of people who walked toward the bridge following the ducks. “It’s for a good cause – it just doesn’t get any better. You walk under the trees in the shade and just watch the ducks go down. It’s really fun.”
Once again, volunteers with the Safe Pet Project served as duck wranglers. They waited on banks and waded in the creek with paddles and rakes, ready to dislodge ducks from weeds or help them tumble off rocks.
Rhonda Wells has served as Safe Pet’s Vice President for two years, but knows that for five years, the organization has been coming back to support the Duck Derby. In addition, they see the project through to the end, and Wells said that some Safe Pet volunteers also help out at Shop With A Cop.
Meanwhile, Karen Kittridge was watching on the sidelines with her friend Ellen. They directed curious children to where some ducks were caught on rocks and kept an eye on the little ones when they crawled down the banks to help the wranglers.
“It’s a fun event because it’s fun for the kids and everybody to get out and watch the ducks – especially on a nice day like today – and it’s not even totally expensive. Most people can afford a duck,” Kittridge believed, with each quacker coming in at $10 each. Some were even sold just before the race began.
“It’s wonderful for everybody – old, young, everybody,” Ellen agreed, with Kittridge adding, “It’s going to a good cause.”
As always, 100% of fundraising proceeds will be going toward Shop With A Cop, a charitable program coordinated by Blairsville PD and Union County Family Connection to treat well-deserving local children to presents under their Christmas trees.
