
Duck Race Grand Marshals Interviewed
Contact: Dave Johnson 575 694-4873
(Deming)--This year's Grand Marshals for the 33rd Annual Comcast Tournament
of Duck Parade are local businesswomen -- and sisters -- Tamara Hurt and
Candie Sweetser.
Hurt opened her certified public accounting office in downtown Deming in
1989 and has been a duck race sponsor every year since. Hurt also was the
tabulator quacker for the races in 1991 and 1992. Hurt said the thing she enjoys most about the duck races is watching children
as they hold a duck for the first time. "It is delightful to see the kids' eyes light up as they are shown the proper way to hold a duck and then carry the duck to the starting line. It's so cute when they talk to their duck and coach their new feathered friend on the best racing strategy."
Candie Sweetser has managed Luna County Broadcasting, and radio stations KDEM-FM and KOTS-AM, since 1990. The stations also have a long history of sponsoring the duck races, and even used to broadcast interesting facts about the races which she
called "Mallard Minutes." You can still hear hourly duck race schedule updates throughout the weekend on both KDEM and
KOTS.
Sweetser believes the races are good for Deming because they are just plain fun. "Where else can you see waddling ducks, people waddling like ducks, racing outhouses, tossed tortillas and more -- all in one weekend?" The Comcast Tournament of Ducks
Parade will be Saturday, August 25th beginning at 10 am. Entry Forms for the parade are availalble on line at demingduckrace.com, or at Southwestern NM On-Line at 202 S. Diamond.
The Great American Duck Race, which this year celebrates New Mexico's 100 years, is sponsored in part by Luna Energy Facility, and has been designated as an Official Centennial Event.