Allison Paine enjoys Saturday’s women’s shucking contest
– The Bay Net Photos by Anna Bedford

In Southern Maryland, the third weekend in October means one thing – it’s oyster time. Last weekend the annual St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival once again unfolded at the fairgrounds in Leonardtown, with music, crafts, competitions, and everything oyster.

 
Deborah Pratt took the women’s shucking title again this year

Since its inception in 1967 the Oyster Festival has grown to become one of the eastern seaboard’s leading folk festivals. The festival showcases the opening of the oyster season on the Chesapeake and celebrates the tradition of men & women making their living working the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

As part of the festival, contestants and supporters came from across the country for the National Oyster Shucking Championship and the National Oyster Cook-Off.

This year’s overall shucking champion is Scotty O’Lear, of Florida. He shucked 24 oysters in 2 minutes 46.91 seconds, taking both the men’s title and the overall championship. O’Lear was also men’s oyster shucking champion for three years, from 2000 to 2002.

The women’s champion, for the second year running is Deborah Pratt, of Virginia. Pratt shucked her oysters in 3 minutes 26.91 seconds. This win is her 8th title in the national competition.

If eating, rather than shucking, is more your forte, there were plenty of mouth-watering mollusks served up in the National Oyster Cook-Off.

 
The simple oyster shooter still a favorite

In the main dish category Elizabeth Bennett, of Mill Creek, WA, took the contest with her Southwest Oyster Quesadillas. Second was Alex DeSantis, of Bethlehem, PA, cooking up Oysters ‘N Cannelloni Beans with Polenta Rounds, and Doug Pope, of Delta, PA came in third with Oyster & Summer Squash Over Hominy Cakes

In the soups and stews category, Marylander Brian Boston, of Sparks, MD, won first place for a Smoked Tomato, Corn & Oyster Stew. A Treasured Oyster Bisque earned Gary Stefan, of Tempe, Az, second place in the category, and Robert Vining, of Metairie, LA, took third place for an Oysters Cauliflower Soup.

In the hors d’oeuvre Jack Campbell, of Clackamas, OR, took first place with Frico Oyster Cups, and also won the grand championship. Robert Johnson prepared Stuffed Buffalo Smokehouse Oysters, and won second place for hors d’oeuvres. Marty Hyson of    Baltimore came in third in the category for Smoked Oysters with Basil-Caper Butter, and also took the People’s Choice Award.