The St. Marys County Oyster Festival

Congratulations to William "Chopper" Young of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, the October 2007 St. Mary's Oyster Shucking Champion and the 2008 World "Oyster Opening" Winner at the September 2008 Galway Ireland, International Oyster Festival.

The story of the Oyster Festival, now in its 42nd year, is so entwined with that of the Lexington Park Rotary Club that it is sometimes difficult to remember which came first, the chicken or the egg. The idea of the oyster festival was first hatched back in 1967 when the new club was looking for a project in which the entire membership could involve itself for the good of all concerned. In addition to the member's involvement, the festival had three main objectives:

1. Promote a weekend of fun, food and fellowship in a rural atmosphere
2. Promote the bounties of life in this land of pleasant living, especially St. Mary's County oysters, as an attraction to visitors
3. To provide funds for the benefit of the charities of the various service and civic participating organizations

The first festival was held on Saturday, October 7, 1967 at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds from 3 until 9 P.M. A charge of $2.00 for adults, and $1.00 for children was collected and the advertising stated "Delicious bivalves served raw, steamed, scalded, fried with traditional trimmings and all you can eat". A little under a thousand visitors relished this first endeavor. Attendance steadily grew as did the festival. In 1974 the festival went from a one day to a two day event, and was moved from the first weekend in October to the third weekend in October. The later was a result of historical data analysis as to which weekend in October had less rainfall. This became necessary after three straight festivals of inclement weather. It was determined that the third weekend in October was 32% less likely to have rain than the first. The date was moved where it remains today.

The festival quickly blossomed from expanded public relations campaigns and being organized in a more business-like manner. By the late 1970's attendance averaged about 25,000 for the two days. The year 1982 saw one of the largest crowds with attendance for the weekend estimated at over 32,000. Today the St. Mary's Oyster Festival still averages nearly 23,000 visitors for the two fun-filled days and has become one of the Eastern Seaboard's leading folk festival's attracting visitors from across the country

Co-sponsoring the first Festival was the St. Mary's County Watermen's Association. Their president for more than 15 years, David Sayre, played a big part in helping to get the first event off the ground. As the Festival grew Rotary and the Watermen's Association yielded much of their role as food purveyors over to other civic groups. Today, the civic and service groups participating in the Oyster Festival number in excess of 20. The 1999 menu had over 34 lines of foodstuffs. Oysters are still featured - fried, stewed, scalded and "nude", but crab cakes and soup, clam chowder, shrimp, fish sandwiches, locally famous St. Mary's County stuffed ham, barbecued beef, chicken and pork, and even polish sausage make it difficult not to find something for even the most discriminatory pallet

NATIONAL OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST

Some of Rotary's facet's in the Festival have had to be released to others over the years but Rotary has retained complete control over the NATIONAL OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST. The shucking contest first took off in 1969 when it was known as the "Chesapeake Bay Oyster Shucking Championship", with local watermen competing for small prizes and a trophy. In the first few year's only 12 oysters per shucker were used, and rules were few and time was the only feature. James "Golden" Thompson was the first champion, and he recorded a time of 80 seconds. In 1972 there were 28 contestants registered with a $ 1.00 entry fee, and there were 3 prizes William "Chopper" Young Finishes Firstof $100.00, 450.00 and $25.00.

The year 1975 saw the first contest with women competing against women and then a battle of the sexes. Bemice Newton of St. Mary's County was the first women's champion. Comelius Mackall of Calvert County was the men's and the first designated National Champion. The following month he went to Ireland and won the International Championship, the only time that to date we have done better than our usual third place. In 1978 Heidi Ho of Florida became the first female National Champion. Following the trip to Ireland the contest changed to 24 oysters (in Ireland they use 30, but theirs are smaller), the rules were revised and updated to be more in conformance with theirs. More emphasis is no", placed on "presentation" with appearance overshadowing raw speed. After a contestant shucks his or her 24 oysters, judges inspect their oysters and add seconds to each contestant's shucking time according to the following table:

Other Milestones in the contest evolved as the term "National" took on truer meaning, and in 1984 Rotary finally obtained a trademark on the wording NATIONAL OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST for the sole use of our Rotary Club.

NATIONAL OYSTER COOK-OFF

A major addition to the Oyster Festival has been the National Oyster Cook-offt. This facet of the Festival began in 1980. It all started back in 1979 when Lucy Wing. then Food Editor of Good Housekeeping Magazine, told Buck Briscoe of the St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission that the festival needed a cooking contest. His office joined forces with the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Maryland. the Home Economics heads from the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Seafood Marketing. The Cook-off was off to a popular start and has now reached a typical year in which over 350 recipes from 30 states are received.

Usually held on the Saturday of the Festival, the Cook-Off features 12 finalists from across the country who compete for prizes in four fresh-oyster cooking categories - main dish, hors d'oeuvres, soups and stews, and outdoor cookery and salads. The top winners in each category are then judged for the best overall recipe and the winner receives $1,000.00 and a silver platter. Festival goers have the opportunity to watch each contestant prepare their dish and "taste test" each contestant's recipe. Attendees are also given the opportunity to vote on their own "people choice" award among the recipes prepared. Additionally returning cook-off winners and renown chefs will be on hand to demonstrate and prepare their favorite oyster dishes after the contest.

A family-oriented festival, the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival is noted for its' emphasis on food, shucking and cooking contests, and quality entertainment. all included in the price of admission. Lots of exciting attractions are featured at the festival. Of particular note is the "Kid's Korner". Carnival games and rides are featured, a roving clown show, as well as pony rides, free balloons and face painting.

There's something for the curious shoppers in the crowd as well. Three buildings are dedicated to displaying and selling local arts and crafts. in conjunction with the Craft Guild of St. Mary's County and the St. Mary's County Art Association. Always a crowds pleaser, exhibitors are restricted to local arts and crafts and Women's Club organizations to preserver the local flavor. No commercial spaces are for rent.

Continuous live entertainment is provided at three locations on the festival grounds. Featured are Jazz, Pop and Country bands. Add to that Jazzercise demonstrations, a square dancers group and a 35 member Barbershop chorus and you have one of the most popular and entertaining shows, with performers presenting a music style that will appeal to fans of bluegrass, folk, jazz and country music.

Entertaining and educational exhibits sponsored by county, state, and private community organizations participate in the festival. A major fascination is the building on the grounds filled with exhibits including old farm and watermen's implements. These exhibits showcase and celebrate a time and place when men and women made their living working the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Festival has come a long way since 1967 when the stalwart bunch worked night and day to stage the first festival. Of the visitors attending each year a cross section survey shows that about 80% are from out of the area. Each year the office gets inquires from all over the country, many repeaters. In an election year the festival sometimes has as many politicians as oyster eaters, all taking advantage of a captive audience.

On a typical year, as the visitors depart, the sun goes down and the lights come on, clean up begins and organizers take time to reflect, it seems that it has been a year of "more than"...

...more than 20,000 visitors
...more than $100,000 in business
...more than $40,000 for charities
...more than 150,000 oysters and 60 kegs of beer consumed

But...

..."more than" all of this is -- People. People helping people

The Rotary creed of "Service Above Self' has been at work in its most graphic state - not only by Rotarians but by every individual of the more than 15 participating organizations.

Visit our website at www.usoysterfest.com.