RV Squid: The Oyster Roast

We've been going to the White Oak Equipment/Fairview Baptist Church Benefit Oyster Roast for years. It's a beloved community event attracting thousands of people. I worked at White Oak for a short period of time and have remained in touch with Janice, the controller. So the event places a special tug on me.

I can tell you that it was something else seeing White Oak's transformation the week of the annual event. Work bays were emptied of equipment and cleaned. The lot full of forklifts, backhoes, loaders, and trailers for sale were emptied in preparation for event parking. Health inspections were conducted and retail shop areas roped off. It truly did take about a week of effort leading up to the event. That's a lot of downtime for a business to absorb. It made an impression on me as to the importance of the event. One year the parking lot was extremely muddy. The event moved to the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fairgrounds and has been held there since.

A committee headed by White Oak founder, Frank McCarty, selects a single beneficiary to whom all the proceeds are awarded that year. Most recipients are facing long-term and potentially fatal diseases or major disabilities, like paralysis, due to an accident. The current year recipient has faced amputations due to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. All of the recipients face daunting medical bills.

The hundreds of church volunteers serve steamed oysters, fried oysters, hot dogs, coleslaw, chips, desserts, and the usual assortment of sodas, coffee, and water. Harold loves the event and spends most of his time at the steamed oyster table. I, on the other hand, joke about my $20 hotdog. Just smelling the steamed oysters is enough to make me shudder.

What started as a one-time event to raise money for an employee with cancer has turned into an annual community event that has raised over one million dollars over the years. McCarty would be the first to give credit to the Lord. Thirty-six years and still going strong. We will miss this.