Today, May 6, 2017, the weather was just ducky--so it was a perfect way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Duck Derby on the lake at the Jordan Creek shopping area in West Des Moines, Iowa. These ducks have migrated back here every year for the past decade, so today's event was billed as a "Duck-ade" of Fun (I call it a Duck-ade of Ducks). This annual event is sponsored by the Youth Emergency Services and Shelter of Iowa (YESS). This special 10th anniversary  event isn't just fun and games--it is also an opportunity to share in the future of Iowa youth.

What a way to start my day. I sometimes make it a destination trip to watch the Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corp when they perform. What a great surprise when I arrived at Jordan Creek to find them performing at the amphitheater by the lake.  Maybe you might call them the warm up band for the Duck Derby, but I call them a class act and definitely one of the highlights of my day. This group of young people, ages 8 to 18, are a real tribute to Des Moines area youth.

The Youth Emergency Services and Shelter is a not for profit agency located at 918 SE 11th Street in Des Moines. YESS serves kids, ages newborn through 17, from all walks of life. Their very wide area of service includes providing food, shelter, counseling, medical care, education support--and more.