Behind the Build: Custom Duck Derby Awards

Every custom project starts with an idea—and this one started with a duck derby.

A customer asked if I could turn our patriotic Uncle Sam Duck into a one-of-a-kind award for the Hersey Palms Resort Annual Independence Day Duck Derby. The request included one duck mounted on a traditional trophy and two additional ducks displayed on custom bases.

Of course, Uncle Sam also needed a little extra attitude, so we added a pair of black sunglasses.

Creating the Grand Champion Trophy

The main award began with an existing traditional trophy. The challenge was finding a secure way to replace the original trophy topper with the much larger 3D-printed duck.

This required more than simply gluing the duck onto the trophy. I modified the design so the mounting hardware could connect through the trophy and into the bottom of the duck. That gave the finished award the strength and stability it needed while still looking like the duck had always belonged there.

The finished trophy features our red, white, and blue Uncle Sam Duck perched proudly above the gold trophy cup. A custom plaque identifies it as the award for the:

Private ResortAnnual Independence DayDuck DerbyGrand Champions

It is patriotic, a little ridiculous, and exactly the kind of trophy people will remember.

Custom Freestanding Duck Derby Awards

The other two awards needed a different design. Instead of using traditional trophies, I created custom 3D-printed display bases for the Uncle Sam Ducks.

Each black and antique-gold base includes raised lettering that reads:

Duck Derby

Grand Champion

The colors and decorative stars coordinate with the duck’s patriotic design. The finished base gives the duck the appearance of a collectible award while keeping the fun personality that makes a duck derby special.

Designed for the Event

Custom projects like this are about more than changing a color or adding a name. The design needs to fit the event, look good from every angle, and remain sturdy enough to be displayed for years.

For this project, that meant:

• Modifying the duck so it could be securely attached to a traditional trophy

• Creating a separate freestanding award base

• Adding custom raised wording

• Matching the bases to the patriotic red, white, and blue theme

• Adding black sunglasses to give Uncle Sam Duck even more personality

• Making each piece specifically for the customer’s Independence Day duck derby

The result was a coordinated set of awards that combined a traditional trophy look with something completely unexpected.

Need a Custom Trophy Topper or Award?

A trophy does not always need a person holding a cup on top. It could be a duck, a mascot, a character, or something designed specifically around your event.

TML Fun Creations can create custom 3D-printed trophy toppers and freestanding awards for duck derbies, competitions, clubs, schools, reunions, company events, fundraisers, and other special occasions.

If you have an existing trophy you would like to modify—or an idea for an entirely new award—send us a message. Photos, measurements, wording, colors, and a description of the event are usually enough to get the design process started.

Sometimes the best trophy is the one nobody expects.