Slovak Oyster Supper – Eat Good and Feel Good Doing It

SLOVAK, AR -- In this small agricultural community north of Stuttgart, the annual Slovak Oyster Supper, a 50+ year tradition for many around the state, doesn’t disappoint but you’ve got to come prepared.  

Prepared for the Slovak Oyster Supper is an empty stomach, warm coat and boots, responsible transportation, a knack for communicating with all walks of life, a glass half-full attitude, especially about standing in long, outside winter lines, and, if you plan on dining in (they also have a drive-thru), enjoying fare and fellowship without the wives or girlfriends.  This ‘men only’ gathering is the main fund raiser for the Slovak Knights of Columbus Council but also raises money for other charities and organizations in the area.  

The Supper draws local residents, most of whom are behind the counters volunteering, city dwellers, if they are able to find tickets to the sold-out event, politicians, accountants, farmers, and a multitude of vocational backgrounds.  Though the company may be diverse, the conversation is not.  The supper typically takes place towards the end of duck season, and most are interested in sharing reports on how the season stacked up around the state, while deliberating very complex theories on why it was better or worse than years past.    

The Supper menu consists of and is delivered in this order at the serving line:  large pile of fries, coleslaw, big gulp cup full of fried oysters, smaller cup of raw oysters, and ice cold beverages.  The oysters were fresh, and those fried were done to perfection, which is quite the feat when handling a crowd this large.

The fried oysters were prepared using local Riceland’s own fish fry oil, which is very fitting for the event.  In the early 1900’s the introduction of rice farming to the small community of Slovak helped fuel the economic boom of the area and the rice industry has remained as the mainstay crop supporting the economic stability to this day.

This conservation specialist did brave the lines and cold and it was worth it because once inside I not only ate well but enjoyed talking with growers about duck hunting, yes, but also conservation, tailwater recovery, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program that will mean so much to the rice farmers here and around the country.
 
If you’ve never been to the Slovak Oyster Supper, start the conversation for tickets now, and clear the calendar on the last Friday of January, because it’s a valuable part of Arkansas history that is well worth the drive to Prairie County.