30,000 rubber ducks hit the Snake River — but none went over the Falls at 35th annual duck race
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IDAHO FALLS — Although no duck crossed the falls at the Idaho Falls Rotary Club’s 35th annual Great Snake River Duck Race, hundreds watched the ducks being dropped.
Over 30,000 rubber ducks were dumped into the Snake River, with 24,257 ducks being adopted by individuals locally, regionally or even out-of-state.
This is the first year none of the ducks fell over the falls. In a conversation with EastIdahoNews.com, Rotary Club President Eugene Engmann said that due to current water conditions, it was unsafe to send the ducks over, and for volunteers to collect them.
The Rotary Club works with Idaho Falls Power to lower the flow rate, but this year, due to an incident in early June, there wasn’t time for that.
“We always appreciate that they are looking out for our safety,” Engmann said. “The duck race always has to end on a good note, and we try as much as possible to do that.”
In June, John Green, a 54-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, fell into the Snake River near the Broadway Street Bridge and has yet to be found.
He was in Idaho Falls for a business seminar and slipped on some rocks while visiting the river with a co-worker.
Community members and Rotary Club members stepped in to help pick up the flock from the river before hitting the falls. Two of those individuals, a father and son duo, Chad and Jasper Wheeler, were in the river with a fishing net, scooping up the ducks.
Chad said that he’s helped collect ducks in previous years. This year, they decided to help out on this end. With the hot weather, Chad said it felt “amazing” to step in the water.
Jasper said his favorite part was hearing the ducks make a loud boom as they hit the water.
The Rotary Club helps maintain the Greenbelt. Chad recalled how it used to look when he was a kid and said he appreciates the work they do.
“It was a beautiful day out here — beautiful community that we live in,” Chad said.
Engmann said he is grateful for the community’s efforts in supporting this event and raising over $7 million to fund projects on the Greenbelt.
“When people see good things, it doesn’t matter what the weather is; they would come out and support it,” Engmann said.
Here are the winners:
- Grand Prize – Stones KIA -2026 KIA K5 – Jessica Chadburn, Rigby
- 1st Prize – ICCU – 2026 Can-Am Outlander ATV – Tammy Dunn, I.F.
- 2nd Prize -The Gun Shop -Sako Finnlight Gun -Angelica Ordonez, IF
Other prizes:
- City of I.F. – $2,200 Two Season Golf Passes – Doyle Hone, I.F.
- Club Apple One Year Membership – Robert Sasse, I.F.
- Perfection Detailing LLC Full Ceramic Package – Lameul Babbitt, IF
- $1,250 Dining Package – Stacie Johnson
- $1,120 Downtown Package – Rochele Mock, I.F.
- Sam’s Club $1,000 Gift Certificate – Paige Parravano
- Driftwood $1,000 Value 3-Night Stay – Shannon Higley, Rexburg
- $1,000 Dining Package – Chris Clark, Layton, Utah
- Bank of Commerce $750 Eastern Idaho State Fair Tickets – Bill O’Donnell, I.F.
