Anderson’s Neck oyster Company to talk everything oyster with KQ Historical Society (April 17, 2013 Tidewater Review)

By FRANCES HUBBARD
Staff Writer

KING & QUEEN – Oysters have had a long-standing history and Anderson’s Neck Oyster Company is working hard to restore that legacy. The proprietor of Anderson’s Neck, Michael Hild, will be the guest speaker April 28 for the King and Queen County Historical Society and plans to present all things oyster related.

Guests will even get to experience an oyster shucking station to sample local oysters.

“We were delighted to receive the invitation to speak at their quarterly meeting,” Hild said. “We intend to talk about everything oyster related at Anderson’s Neck.”

Hild purchased the Anderson’s Neck property, located at the southeast tip of King and Queen County about one mile from the Gloucester County border, in 2010 and began developing possibly the largest oyster aquaculture business in the Commonwealth.

A self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur and wildlife enthusiast, Hild was hoping to preserve the historic home and land, which dates back to 1662.

After purchasing the property, Hild found historical information linking Anderson’s Neck to the York River oyster. “I thought with all that history wouldn’t it be great if we could bring it back and restore it,” Hild said. “I’ve been living and breathing everything about oysters since then and that was 2010.”

Late last year, Hild gained the necessary permits from King and Queen, as well as the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and other agencies, to establish a floating nursery in Morris and Poropotank Bays. The nursery is designed to include up to 1,670 cages and produce millions of oysters.

Mostly recently, Hild said they have placed 4 million baby oyster seeds in the farms special cages designed so the tiny seeds cannot escape, attached to the bottom of special solar powered “oysterplexes.” These oysterplexes double as workstations.

At the meeting, Hild said he, along with his wife, Laura, and other farm workers and volunteers, will present information on the history of oysters in the area, the environmental impacts oysters can make, and the future of Anderson’s Neck.

The King and Queen Historical Society meeting will take place Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at Shacklefords Chapel United Methodist Church, located at 3727 Buena Vista Road in Plain View.

Refreshments will be served following the meeting at the church.