The Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest to be held at the Pemaquid Oyster Festival, on Sunday, Sept. 28 will be wide open for competitors as “master shucker” William “Chopper” Young will be competing at the World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland. The event is the most highly regarded oyster shucking contest in the world, and the winner is considered to the international champion oyster shucker.

Chopper, who has already won the Galway event once, aced all of the competition at the 2013 Pemaquid Oyster Festival, walking away with the title of Maine Oyster Shucking Champion and a custom belt buckle designed by Alan McKinnon of Narragansett Leathers in Damariscotta Mills. The win in Damariscotta qualified Chopper for the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Contest at the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival in Maryland, which he also won, qualifying him for World Oyster Opening Championship.

All of this means that the 2014 Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will have an open field for oyster shuckers, and a new cash prize as well as a custom belt buckle to inspire their participation. Larry Sidelinger of Yankee Pride Trucking, long-time judge and emcee of the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest, has offered a $100 first prize and $50 second prize for the 2014 event.

The Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will kick off at approximately 3 p.m.

Registration for the contest will be on-site at the festival, which opens at noon.

Contestants in the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will be timed while shucking a set amount of oysters, and then 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.

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 are tents to cover the educational exhibits, entertainment stage, and other locations so that the Pemaquid Oyster Festival can be held rain or shine.

The Pemaquid Oyster Festival is 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.

"This fund is intended to continue Edward Myers’ vision of having a sustainable working waterfront as well as protecting our marine environment; implemented through education and research projects with a focus on marine conservation," said Chris Davis of the Pemaquid Oyster Company.

The Pemaquid Oyster Festival is also seeking volunteers to fill a variety of positions. Some of the activities volunteers will be needed for include: stage management, festival set-up and take-down, boat deck hands, boat ride gate management, oyster shucking, general assistance on the food line, and contest management.

For more information on volunteer work or sponsorships, please contact Greg Latimer at 207-380-9912 or pemaquidoysterfest@gmail.com.