Andy Rogers is the 2026 US Oyster Shucking Champion. In the finals held on Sunday at the US Oyster Festival in Maryland he beat out the competition by shucking 24 oysters in 2 minutes and 16.93 seconds.
The was Rogers’s 6th time competing at the national level after winning at the regional Wellfleet OysterFest in 2021. Rogers shared, “I work hard to improve my craft every day, and it is very gratifying to celebrate that continuous improvement with milestones like this. The community around this sport is incredible, and the joy of coming together with people who are just as dedicated in this craft is worth all the travel regardless of the outcome.”
Rogers uses a prototype oyster shucking knife of his own design which he’s been developing since 2020 which he feels was instrumental to his success. He is currently looking to scale up production.
Rogers plans to represent the United States at the World Oyster Opening Championship taking place in Galway, Ireland in September. “I have a lot of time to prepare, and will need it. The oysters that we shuck for worlds are a completely different species called Ostrea edulis, aka European Flats or belons.”
Rogers and Ryan Jolie operate the Jolie Rogers raw bar in Wiscasset which they launched in 2023.