A line-up of 14 contestants are sharpening their oyster knives as the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest draws near.

A favorite part of the Pemaquid Oyster Festival, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 30, the winner of the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will eligible to compete in the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Contest at the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival in Maryland. The winner of that event is qualified to go to the World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland, which is the most highly regarded oyster shucking contest in the world, where the winner is considered to be the international champion oyster shucker.

A past winner of the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest, William “Chopper” Young, did move on to win the national championship, and then to Galway; but was unable to prevail in the international championship.

“It will be an exciting contest this year, with plenty of past champions,” said David Seybold, the “Grand Kahuna” of the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest. “Last year’s winner Brendan Parsons will be back, and Ben Wolven who won in 2014. Crowd favorite and past champion Smokey McKeen will be participating and Chris Buxton who won in 2015 and 2016 will be in the running again.”

The Pemaquid Oyster Festival is a rollicking celebration of Maine’s working waterfront and the primary fundraiser for the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund. The fund is named after Edward Myers, a Walpole resident who pioneered aquaculture in the Damariscotta River and many other areas. Over $100,000 in grants have been issued by the fund since its inception in 2003.
Valuable prizes are also awarded at the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest, with cash prizes as well as a custom belt buckle. Larry Sidelinger of Yankee Pride Transportation, long-time emcee of the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest, has offered a $100 first prize and $50 second prize for the event.

The winner is also awarded a custom oyster belt buckle and belt designed by Alan McKinnon of Narragansett Leathers in Damariscotta Mills.

Time qualifications for the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will be held during the Pemaquid Oyster Festival, culminating when the four finalists kick off compete for the winning title beginning at approximately 2:45 p.m.

Contestants in the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will be timed while shucking twelve oysters. Preliminary rounds are judged by timing only. Final rounds include time and demerits against that time will be given based on the quality of the shucked oyster, including any shell pieces left and how much liquid (called “liquor”) is left in the oyster, according to Seybold.

Three eminent oyster aficionados will judge the contest: John Reny of Renys, Laura Cabot of Laura Cabot Catering, and Bobby Whear of the Mill Pond Inn.

Entries for the contest, limited to 14, have already been filled. Prospective entrants for the 2019 Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest can contact Seybold at the event.

As always, the Pemaquid Oyster Festival will feature a great line-up of entertainment, food, and educational exhibits.

While the event is held outdoors on Schooner Landing’s riverside deck, there is a tent provided by Renys to cover the educational exhibits, entertainment stage, and other locations so that the Pemaquid Oyster Festival can be held rain or shine.

For more information on the Pemaquid Oyster Festival contact Greg Latimer at 207-380-9912 or greglatimer@yahoo.com.