AVOCA – Duck racing veteran Jack Cheesman brought in his friends from Washington, D.C., for the duck races in Avoca on Saturday with unflappable expectations.

Cheesman: “This will be my second duck race … very excited. I think my duck will take first place if I’m being honest. This is my lovely lady. She’s a duck virgin, so we’re excited to be a part of it, enjoy the duck races and support a great cause.”

A Lincoln duck known as Duck Yeah competed for her fifth year. She credits the duck disguise for her success in round one.

Duck: “They feel familiar with me and they feel safe. That’s how we win.

Kyle Derby of Louisville recruited Mackenize for her first race, but the duck costume was a little deflated in the cold weather.

Does it help with the duck racing?

Derby: “No. Not at all. It’s just fun.”

The annual event draws thousands of people and enough ducks to match the town's population of 200. The crowd is so big that cell service is posted as not available.

The 2025 winners were Emily Novak of Omaha, Jacob Christil of Lincoln and Jennifer Baulisch of Papillion.

McKenna Myers-Staack of Avoca won the award for best dressed with the Avoca Super Duck.