For many of us, change is hard. Sometimes, however, things can change and fundamentally stay the same. I experienced this firsthand at the 77th annual Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland this summer.
Congratulations to 2024 Maine Lobster Festival Delegate Caitlyn Lamb. L-R: Jenna Vanryn,
Hannah Hall, Jillian Barnard, Lamb, Chelsea Gaiero, Lyla Brooks, Natalee Hitz. MLF photo.
I was honored to represent the Maine Lobstermen’s Association during the 2024 Lobster Delegate Competition. For 75 years this is the event was known as the Maine Lobster Festival Sea Goddess competition. After years of declining participation, organizers heard loud and clear from young people in the community that they were no longer interested in what, to some, looked like a beauty pageant. Instead, they wanted to return the event’s focus on community service and advocacy for the lobster fishery, which is so important to the identity of midcoast Maine. This summer is the second year of the Maine Lobster Festival Delegate Competition.
On July 24, I joined State Representative Vickie Doudera, Shannon Landwehr, president/CEO of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Alexis Saba, senior manager of academic programs at the Farnsworth Museum, for a daylong session to meet this year’s candidates. We shared lunch and conversation before we met individually with the seven young women vying for this year’s title. During our chats, each candidate described their motivation for competing, spoke eloquently about the people who have inspired them in their young lives, and importantly, spoke about what Maine’s lobster industry means to each of them. Some come from lobstering families or work on lobster boats themselves, some come from families whose small businesses support the industry, and others live in communities whose identities are rooted in this heritage industry. All expressed an deeply held desire to represent and promote this industry at events throughout New England in the year ahead.
Two days later, we joined the delegate candidates and their families at a banquet at the Samoset Resort where each woman made a presentation to the audience and answered additional questions from the judges. It was apparent is that while each was doing her best to “win” the title, in the end it wouldn’t matter to them who prevailed. They had become friends, and they would be supportive of whomever was chosen. What was also apparent is that we, the judges, had our work cut out.
On July 31, the opening night of the 2024 Festival, we all gathered again on the main stage in Rockland’s Harbor Park. The audience was filled with friends, neighbors, the contestants’ families, and visitors from around the world. Each was there for the same reason that people have filled the audience for so many years — to see the joy on the winner’s face and to show their appreciation for each candidate’s willingness to speak publicly for an industry that means so much to the state.
In the end, the title of 2024 Lobster Festival Delegate was presented to Caitlyn Lamb of Cushing. Caitlyn recently graduated from Oceanside High School and plans to attend Maine Maritime Academy this fall to study Marine Engineering Operations. Caitlyn’s family has a rich history in the area and personal connections to the lobster industry. She’ll be an amazing voice for the lobster festival and the industry during the next year.
The competition itself may have changed since it began in 1947, but the spirit remains the same — to proudly represent and advocate for Maine’s lobster industry. There is no question each of these intelligent and talented candidates will do just that — and Maine is better because of it.
We’d also like to thank everyone who turned out for the MLA’s Summer Fundraising Dinner at the Quarry Tavern at the East Wind Inn in Tenants Harbor on August 15. Not only did attendees enjoy a delicious three-course meal, which of course included lobster, but they listened with interest as MLA’s acting COO and policy director Patrice McCarron and board member Bob Baines discussed the challenges facing the industry and the MLA’s continued efforts to address those issues. Special thanks to Brian and Danielle Turner and their team at the East Wind for hosting the event and for their hospitality.
Guests at the Samoset Resort were treated to a special art show to benefit the MLA during the week of August 16. Seven local Maine artists participated in the show, each pledging to donate at least half of any sale to the MLA. Participating artists include Amy Kelly, Jennifer Pope, Betty Heselton, Shelley Breton, Lynn Ericson, Cheryl Seavey, Kelly jo Shows. The MLA was also delighted to once again participate in the 47th annual Maine Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias on Saturday, August 17.
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