A Virginia man wolfed down 40 dozen oysters in eight minutes Sunday to win the World Oyster Eating Championship at the New Orleans Oyster Festival, the Times-Picayune reported.

Darron Breeden of Orange, Virginia, topped a field of seven contestants who participated in the annual contest, which is held in a park between the French Quarter and the Mississippi River.

Breeden put away 480 south Louisiana oysters to defeat defending champion Michelle Lesco of Tuscon, Arizona, who polished off 27 dozen bivalves, the Times-Picayune reported.

New Orleans resident Adrian Morgan was third with 26 dozen oysters.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Greene County head football coach Darius Robinson, seen here celebrating with his team after a win in October, was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News)

Credit: Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com