National Champ Duke Landry poses with King Oyster
Leonardtown, MD — The 48th Annual St. Mary’s County Oyster festival went off over the weekend without a hitch under sunny fall skies. On Sunday, Duke Landry of Louisiana won the National Oyster Shucking Championship and a trip to Galway, Ireland next September to represent the U.S. in the International Oyster Opening Championship.
Landry won the championship 28 years ago. He defeated Women’s Champion Lisa Bellamy of North Carolina.
The championships were MC’d by three-time international champion Michael Moran of Galway. Moran attended as the guest of the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, the event’s sponsor.
On Saturday Robert Bonner of Prince Frederick won the 2014 Grand Prize and Best Presentation in the National Oyster Cookoff with his entry Oysters in a Blanket.
With general election early voting starting this week the fairgrounds was filled with candidates, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan, who attended on Saturday afternoon alomng with an entourage of Republican candidates,.
As usual, the festival included oysters of all types along with other food and drinks. The fair buildings were packed with arts and crafts and other vendors.
Proceeds of the Oyster Festival go to local charities.
To see photos from the Oyster Festival Saturday 2014 CLICK HERE!
To see photos from the Oyster Festival Sunday 2014 CLICK HERE!
To see photos from the Oyster Festival Larry Hogan 2014 CLICK HERE!
Gallery photos by Ron Bailey.