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Thursday, October 31, 2024

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Oyster Shucking Contest is Saturday at the firehouse

Deborah Pratt, left, of Jamaica and Robert Minor of Gwynn’s Island, compete in the final round of the 2022 Urbanna Oyster Festival’s oyster shucking contest. Closely watching are contest officials, from left, Eric Faudree, Jayla Casuccio and Wayne Jessie. Minor ended up winning the Virginia State Shucking Championship title and Pratt was the runner-up. They had a similar finish in 2023. (Photo by Don Richeson)

The Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest, sponsored by T.M. Williams & Son Seafood, Urbanna Seafood & Raw Bar, Tony Walton Seafood and Walton Seafood, will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, behind the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department station (the Urbanna firehouse) at 335 Virginia St.

Since Urbanna is the home of Virginia’s “official” Oyster Festival, it is only appropriate that some of the best oyster shuckers in the world practice their trade near the town. The top professional shucker in the contest typically wins $300. The first place prize in each of the men’s and women’s divisions is $100; second, $50; and third, $25.

The winner is declared state champion and advances to compete in the National Oyster Shucking Contest in St. Mary’s County, Md., in October 2025. The National Champion then travels to Galway, Ireland to participate in the World Championship.

 Check out the results of the 2023 Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest

Although the emphasis is on speed, other factors on which the contestants are judged include the amount of shell fragments, clean separation of the oyster from the shell and damage to the meat of the oyster.

There will be an amateur shucking competition with a plaque for the winner, and an official Oyster Festival poster for second and third place finishers. Registration begins at 10 a.m. behind the firehouse.