Butterfield Youth Services are at it again with their eighth annual rubber duck race benefit and their third annual poker run for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Matt Van Vactor, director of public relations, said the event is not just for motorcycle riders.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, June 3. The duck race starts at noon at the Marshall Habilitation Center lake.

Participants in the poker run can sign in at the lake from 11 a.m. to noon. The first hand will cost $15 and will include one duck adoption. Participants can buy additional poker hands for $10 and extra ducks for $5.

Lori Blalock, event organizer and management assistant at BYS, said, the poker run riders can stay for the duck race and then start on the course.

The poker run route is 100 miles in length and riders stop to get cards at Arrow Rock, Boonslick State Park, Keytesville and their final stop at Bogey's Restaurant.

Blalock said whoever has the best poker hand will receive $100, second place will receive $50 and third will receive $25.

"We had about 60 riders the first year and about 85 last year," Blalock said.

The duck race has made several adaptations in seven years including the main one of the method at which the ducks are retrieved.

Van Vactor said the initial idea was to have the ducks run down a body of flowing water such as a creek.

However, a problem with that method was they needed a solid trap and plenty of space for spectators to see. Also, the rubber ducks are collected and re-used each year, and if they use a creek the ducks might get hung in snags along the path and lost.

He said they used YMCA's pool and the fire department brought in a piece of equipment that turned the water.

Finally event organizers have settled on the method that has been used the past two years and will be used this year. A hunting dog will pluck the ducks from the MHC lake and the ducks returned to shore will determine the winners.

Anyone can adopt a duck for $5 each by filling out adoption papers available from sponsors or from BYS. A special rate is offered for multiple adoptions. Six ducks costs $25, 12 costs $50, etc.

Sam, a black Labrador retriever who has carefully chosen the most attractive ducks for the last two years and is owned by Robert and Jacqulynne Knox, will do the honors this year as well.

The ducks, with a number on their bellies, will be released into the lake by boat and then Sam will retrieve four different ducks. The first four ducks chosen will win the grand prizes.

First prize winner will choose a $1,000 gift certificate from either Yeager's Harley-Davidson or Adventure Quest Travel. The second duck chosen will earn its sponsor a Kodak Easy Share Digital Camera, third a Phillips Portable DVD Player with seven-inch screen and fourth a handmade quilt.

Everyone is encouraged to join the festivities at Bogey's Restaurant for door prizes and special awards. Van Vactor said they have the outside patio reserved for the day and all ages are welcome to attend.

Platinum sponsors are Ashford Agency Inc., Diehm's Tire, Bogey's Restaurant and Red Cross Pharmacy. Gold sponsors include Kevin Samson's MACO, Marshall First Stop, Newton's Automotive, Springwater Greenhouse and Yeager's Cycles. Silver sponsors are Hare Ford Sales, Darrell Baker Trucking and The Employees of BYS. Bronze sponsors include Marshall Homestore, The Sewing Circle, and The Childcare Employees of BYS.

Organizers offer special thanks to Central Missouri Sedalia Chapter of the Harley Owners Group.

For more information on the event or to adopt a duck, call (660) 886-2253 or e-mail Blalock at LoriBlalock@bys-kids.org.

Contact Rachel Harper at

marshallcity@socket.net