We held our 11th annual Oyster Social on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Every year we hold a cookout for our growers and volunteers to thank them for their time and hard work to help keep the oyster program thriving.
Storms came through town in the late morning but cleared out by early afternoon. Luckily the temperatures held nice and cool with a lovely breeze throughout the evening, making for a very pleasant evening to be outside under the tent.
Seventy-six of our growers and volunteers came to join us for local Frase’s Meat Shop hamburgers, Nathan’s hot dogs, baked beans and a variety of other sides from our local Acme Market. Beer and wine from two local businesses Harrison’s and Town and Country Liquors. Cole’s Seafood supplied us with oysters on the half shell, as well as Alan from the shop to expertly shuck the oysters. They were delicious and gone entirely too soon! We’ll have to order more for next year’s event.
As always, Smith Island cakes were the dessert offered and we had a few flavor varieties to choose from. Classic, Lemon and Coconut this year.
Without our growers and volunteers, we would not be able to do what we do to help the oyster population, and as a result, help to clean the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. They do all of the hard work for our program, from delivering the spat on shell to the care of the cages where the spat have a safe environment to mature in, to the picking up and planting of the oysters in the State Sanctuary provided for us by the DNR. They give their time and energy selflessly and we appreciate it!
