FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2025
Contact: GADR Board of Directors
(575) 567-3905  
[email protected]


This Year’s Theme:
Vegas Casino Duck – Press Your Luck, Race A Duck!

Deming, NM - The Great American Duck Race is back again, and we hope you are as excited as we are to celebrate 46 years of community. “Vegas Casino Duck – Press Your Luck, Race a Duck!!” will raise the stakes throughout our local community. All bets are off as we kick off with excitement and collaboration with many events that will share the “Vegas Casino Duck” theme in 2025. Margie Castro is this year’s theme winner of $100 dollars. Thank you to all the participants with over 100 entries with many theme ideas being recommended multiple times. This year’s logo will be designed by Jerran Duty and features a Vegas Casino Duck, to be released soon, it’s time to get excited about this year’s events!
 
The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities and will be used for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend’s events.

The 46th Annual Great American Duck Race 
This year the event will be held on Thursday, August 21st through Sunday, August 24th.  The Duck Race has been the trademark of Deming for over four decades and draws huge crowds from all over New Mexico and our neighboring states for a weekend of fun, food and fast ducks.
 
For more information coming soon on vendors applications, sponsorship opportunities, activities, and events, please visit our website:  www.demingduckrace.com or call 575-567-3905.

The Columbus Electric Co-Op Tournament of Ducks Parade Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2024
Contact: Tarcia Rebeiz
(575)  567-3928
[email protected]

Deming, NM - The Great American Duck Race is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever including the Columbus Electric Co-Op Tournament of Ducks Parade. Join the fun and enter your float, car, truck, bike or ATV to Race Through the Stars in downtown Deming, NM. Don’t forget to incorporate the theme of Hula Duck and try to win 1st place. 
 
 
The Duck Race Committee is proud to announce Joe “Butter” Milo and Jim Reedy as the Grand Marshalls for this year’s parade.
 
Every great tradition starts with a simple idea, and in Deming, New Mexico, that idea was born over casual conversations at the Grand Motor Inn Lounge. It all began with a group of friends, including Joe “Butter” Milo and Jim Reedy; who will share in being honored as the 2024 Tournament of Ducks Parade Grand Marshals. Jim and Butter wanted to create something special for their community, an event that would bring everyone together and put small town Deming on the map. With ponds full of ducks scattered across the local farms, the group decided on something unique and thus The Great American Duck Races were born.
 
The idea started small but quickly grew, thanks to the combined efforts of a group of enthusiastic and creative individuals. Alongside Jim and Butter, the founding team included names like Harel Cosland from the local newspaper, ex-police officer and promoter Steve Marlow, artist Bill McKinley, Bernie Green, and Jim Worthen, who handled the barbecue. Butter's first major contribution was printing promotional materials for the event, as he owned a print shop in town. The group decided the perfect date was last weekend of August for the races, strategically avoiding conflicts with school schedules, holidays, or the local fair.
 
Before the event could begin they would need a track and entrusted Jim Reedy with the task of building the racetrack. Partnering with the local railroad, they constructed a 17-foot long track, giving the ducks a 16-foot stretch to race. Though they originally anticipated only six entries, by race day, over 50 ducks were ready to compete. Jim, who also judged the races, recalled expecting the ducks to waddle leisurely down the track, only to watch them bolt forward in a surprisingly competitive display!
 
The very first duck race was a hit, and the event continued to grow each year. Butter, Jim, and their friends had sparked something much bigger than they anticipated. A few of the founders wives organized the first pageant at the fairgrounds, while Butter took on more responsibilities, such as overseeing the vendors. Butter carefully arranged how many of each type of vendor would be allowed and strategically placed them around the event. 
 
As the races proceeded every year, they introduced the parade and hot air balloons, creating even more excitement for the community. Butter sent out promotional packets to newspapers and radio stations, including t-shirts, entries for the duck race, the outhouse race, and the tortilla toss, along with pictures from the previous year. Butter was always full of ideas, and in the third year, he introduced the famous Outhouse Races, which were held downtown to draw people to the area after the duck races, with the help of Mainstreet director at the time, Dona Irwin. Butter would go on to run the outhouse races for 33 years. Butter also introduced the Tortilla Toss, adding even more fun to the festivities.
 
As the races gained traction, people from around the world began to take notice. Jim recalls receiving calls from as far as China and Japan to inquire about the event, and the Associated Press helped spread the word with news stories that drew in global curiosity. "What was this duck race?" people wondered. The answer was simple: it was a celebration of community, fun, and a little bit of friendly competition.
 
"Before, you used to enter your own ducks into the race," Jim recalls fondly. One of the more colorful characters from those early races was a gentleman named Robert Duck—a fitting name for a duck racer if ever there was one. Robert won year after year, his ducks always crossing the finish line first. One year, Robert found himself short a participant, and he offered to teach Jim how to race a duck properly. From then on, Robert dedicated himself to training ducks and showing others the secret to a successful race, which helped even more people join in the fun.
 
The original committee, including Jim and Butter stayed involved in the event for years, ensuring its continued success. After years of dedicated involvement, Jim and Butter stepped back from actively organizing the races. Jim and his wife Barbara still attend every year. Butter, meanwhile, continues to be amazed at how far the races have come. "For me," Butter said, "I can marvel and thank all the committees that contributed to the duck race. One of the best NM state events. Proud to be a part of it."
 
From those first conversations at the Grand Motor Inn Lounge to the international phenomenon the Duck Race has become, Jim Reedy, Joe “Butter” Milo, and their friends built a legacy that continues to draw crowds from near and far. The Duck Race isn’t just about the fast ducks, it’s about the heart and spirit of a community coming together to create something truly special and unforgettable. 
 
The 45th Annual Great American Duck Races kicks off Thursday, August 22nd with the Bravo Mic Duck Royalty Pageant at the DHS Auditorium and wraps up Sunday, August 25th with the final duck races being held around 3 p.m. at the Luna County Courthouse Park.   
 
For a full schedule and details, visit demingduckrace.com.

By New Mexico Tourism Department on Jul. 01, 2024

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is further expanding its investment in New Mexico’s tourism events and festivals for fiscal year 2025.
The Tourism Event Growth & Sustainability Program offers eligible New Mexico entities that host tourism-related events with technical assistance, marketing resources and sponsorship support for those events. For FY25, NMTD is awarding $533,238 in support to 38 events, both a record for the agency. The investment by NMTD in this program for FY25 represents an increase of $77,536 in grant funding compared to FY24.
This program offers three options of support. The first option is an event accelerator that helps tourism events level up through technical support and strategic planning. The second option is a cooperative marketing model that pools resources between NMTD and participating entities. The third option is sponsorship support established tourism events. For FY25, 10 events will be participating in the accelerator, 14 will be participating in the marketing cooperative and 14 will be participating in the sponsorship module.
Tourism events in 16 destinations across New Mexico will be supported by this program in FY25. Of the 38 participating tourism events, 21 are hosted in communities outside of Albuquerque or Santa Fe.
New Mexico’s Native American and Hispanic American heritage is represented and supported through this program. The FY25 cohort includes six events that celebrate Native American culture and heritage and four events that celebrate Hispanic American culture and heritage.
“This program was created not just to offer technical support and financial resources to tourism-related events – it exists to take participating events along a journey of actual growth; one where events are building capacity, programming, attendance, quality guest experience or any other element of the event’s strategic vision,” said Acting Secretary Lancing Adams. “I’m happy to see that participants in this program are actually ‘leveling up’ and taking these events to new heights through our collaboration.”
The FY25 cohort includes 11 first-time participants for the program, ranging from the Silver City Blues Festival to Chama Christmas in the Mountains. The other first-time participating events in the program include: Blossom & Bones Ghost Ranch Music Festival, Chama Yak Attack, Cloudcroft Heritage Days Celebration, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Dance Program, Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival, Red River Oktoberfest, Santa Fe Studio Tour, Tejano Fest and Vino in the Valley.

Below is a complete list of program participants for FY25:

Event Accelerator

Chama Christmas in the Mountains, Chama, $5,000
Chama Valley Art Festival and Studio Tour, Chama, $5,000
Chama Yak Attack, Chama, $5,000
Farmhouse Ale and Bernalillo Blues Festival, Bernalillo, $5,000
​Great American Duck Race, Deming, $5,000

Read more here: https://www.newmexico.org/industry/news/post/tourism-department-investment-in-tourism-event-program-surpasses-500000-in-year-three/

Deming, NM - The Great American Duck Race is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year including the Duck Royalty Pageant. Join the fun and enter if you or anyone you know have the desire to waddle in public! Don’t forget to incorporate the theme of “Hawaiian Duck – Hula To The Finish Line” and try to win Duck Queen or King and take home $500 cash plus many more prizes!
 
Age Divisions are: Just Hatched, 0-12 months; Lil Waddlers, 2-4; Downey Ducklings, 5-8; Darling Ducklings, 9-12;Queen and/or King, 13 and up
 
The basis for judging will be:
• Costume – Looking for originality and duck waddle
• Talent – Create a 2- to 4-minute duck routine to impress the judges.
• Interview (for King/Queen only) – General fowl knowledge, Poise and overall ability to represent the Great American Duck Race of Deming and anything the judges may “Quack” up.
 
To register, please visit the official duck race website at www.demingduckrace.com and fill out the entry form before August 19, 2024. 
 
The 45th Annual Great American Duck Races kicks off Thursday, August 22nd at 6:30pm with the Royalty Pageant at the Deming Public Schools Auditorium and wraps up Sunday, August 25th with the final duck races being held around 3 p.m. at the Luna County Courthouse Park.

​For a full schedule and details in the near future, visit www.demingduckrace.com.

This Year’s Theme:
Hawaiian Duck – Hula To The Finish Line!

Deming, NM - The Great American Duck Race is back again, and we hope you are as excited as we are in celebrating 45 years of community. “Hawaiian Duck – Hula To The Finish Line!!” is already dancing through our local community and the official logo is kicked off with excitement and collaboration with many events that will share the “Hawaiian Duck” theme in 2024. Claritza Rangel is this year’s theme winner of $100 dollars. Thank you to all the participants with over 100 entries with many theme ideas being recommended multiple times. This year’s logo was designed by Jerran Duty and features a Hawaiian Duck, celebrating at a luau, and doing the Hula To The Finish Line, it’s hard not to get excited about this year’s events!

​
 
The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities and will be used for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend’s events.

The 45th Annual Great American Duck Race 
This year the event will be held on Thursday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 25th.  The Duck Race has been the trademark of Deming for over four decades and draws huge crowds from all over New Mexico and our neighboring states for a weekend of fun, food and fast ducks. 
 
For more information on vendors applications, sponsorship opportunities, activities, and events, please visit our website:  www.demingduckrace.com or call 575-567-3905.

The Great American Duck Race Committee is looking for our community to participate and provide theme ideas for the 2024 event. The only guideline is to be creative and ensure that the theme can be used throughout all of the weekends events including our Duck Royalty Pageant and Tournament of Ducks Parade.

Submit your 2024 Theme Ideas for a chance to win $100 if yours is selected.

Please complete your submission prior to 5pm on February 26, 2024. The winning theme submitter will be notified after a logo has also been prepared for the announcement.


The submission window has now

been closed - thank you for your

input for our 2024 event. Stay

​ tuned!

The 2023 schedule of events is now available! Take a look at all of the fun events to join in on while you are attending the Great American Duck Race Weekend!

​

​Deming, NM - The Great American Duck Race is back again, and we hope you are as excited as we are in celebrating 44 years of community. “Disco Duck Hustling to Victory!!” is already dancing through our local community and the official logo is kicked off with excitement and collaboration with many events that will share the “Disco Duck” theme in 2023. Jasmine Almanza is this year’s theme winner of $100 dollars. Thank you to all the participants. This year’s logo was designed by Jerran Duty and features a Disco dancing duck a John Travolta look alike, it’s hard not to get excited about this year’s events.
 
The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities and will be used for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend’s events.

The 44th Annual Great American Duck Race 
This year the event will be held on Thursday, August 24th through Sunday, August 27th.  The Duck Races have been the trademark of Deming for over three decades and draw huge crowds from all over New Mexico and our neighboring states for a weekend of fun, food and fast ducks. 
 
For more information on vendors applications (including our new local hobbyist), activities, and events, please visit our website:  www.demingduckrace.com or call 575-567-3905.