Shad Planking

[http://www.shadplanking.com Shad planking] is a political annual event that takes place every April in Wakefield, Virginia where would-be candidates, reporters, campaign workers, and locals gather to eat shad, drink beer, and kick off the state's electoral season with lighthearted speeches by politicians in attendance.

History

The traditional event was originally a tribute to the start of the fishing season however it soon gained a political function. The planking dates to the 1930s near Smithfield, Virginia, beginning as a small gathering of friends to celebrate the James River running of shad -- the oily, bony fish smoked for the occasion on wood planks over an open flame. The [http://www.wakefieldruritanclub.org Wakefield Ruritan Club] took over in 1949 and has hosted the event ever since on the wooded property of a sportsmen's club near Route 460 in Sussex County, Virginia about an hour southeast of Richmond. It is held on the third Wednesday in April each year.

Over the years, the gathering has evolved into a political gossip festival -- a place for candidates to see and be seen and for the curious to speculate about the likely winners and losers of the year's coming campaign season.

In its early years, Democratic party bosses used shad planking as an opportunity to select the next governor. Harry F. Byrd, Sr. and the Byrd Organization, dominated Virginia politics into the 1960s. However, as Virginia became more Republican the event became dominated by Republicans. Recent years has seen substantial representation by all parties, including the Libertarian Party.

The unique shad cooking technique that is enjoyed today traces it roots to Mr. Paul Cox, of Surry County, Virginia. Mr. Cox, along with several Ruritans including Dr. E.C. Nettles and Mr. Richard Savedge, invited twenty-five of their friends to historic Wrenn's Mill in Isle of Wight County, Virginia for their first Shad Planking. Having attended similar functions in the deep South, Mr. Cox introduced the group to the intriguing process of cooking 15 shad they had caught earlier in the day from the James River on hardwood planks over an open fire. With Dr. Nettles' suggestion and help, the [http://www.wakefieldruritanclub.org Wakefield Ruritan Club] in Wakefield, VA later adopted this time honored tradition as an annual community and fund raising function in 1949. The event has been held every year since to herald the arrival of spring, with attendance increasing in size from the original 300 guests to over 2000 today.

In his 1977 novel, "The Shad Treatment," Garrett Epps called it "a yearly gathering of the white men in Southside [Virginia] -- no blacks, no women allowed -- where the shirt-sleeve politicians . . . gathered to look over the political leadership." That has changed and all are welcome now. Many think that in 1977, then-state State Senator L. Douglas Wilder (D) became the first black to attend. Also that year, Washington Post reporter Megan Rosenfeld was the first woman to attend.

[http://www.shadplanking.com Shad planking] is marked by characteristic sign wars between opposing campaigns, in which campaign workers cover the surrounding area with tens of thousands of signs ranging in size from yard-variety to 4 by 8 foot billboards. Indeed, the sign wars are so tied to the event that the term "shad planking" has become occupational slang for high density sign deployment.

2008 Event

The 60th annual shad planking held on April 16 (the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre) at the Wakefield Sportsmen's Club near Wakefield, coincided with the reconvened session of the Virginia General Assembly. The featured speakers were the candidates for John Warner's U. S. Senate seat; former governor Mark Warner, the Democratic candidate, and Republican contenders Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, and former governor Jim Gilmore.

Each candidate opened with comments on the the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre. Warner spoke of bipartisan cooperation and pledged to become a "radical centrist" if elected.

Marshall, who is facing Gilmore for the Republican Party nomination, rarely mentioned Warner during his speech. Instead he emphasized his conservative voting record, strong stance against abortion and gay marriage. He also highlighted his role leading the legal challenge to the regional transportation authorities in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

Gilmore emphasized his connection to John McCain and Warner's connection to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He characterized Warner as an untrustworthy, tax-and-spend liberal who wants to set a withdrawal date for the war in Iraq.

2007 Event

The 2007 Shad Planking was held April 18 at the Wakefield Sportsmen's Club near Wakefield. Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, wearing a Virginia Tech tie, was the main speaker. The crowd was smaller than normal in this off election year. The weather was a bit chilly, The colors of Virginia Tech were on display, with many folks wearing VT hats and t-shirts, since the event occurred two days after the Virginia Tech massacre. Rather than giving a political speech, Bolling focused on the events at Virginia Tech. Bollings’ son is a 2006 graduate of VT, now living at home and working in Richmond. He knew three of those killed.

2006 Event

The speaker was Attorney General Bob McDonnell who stole the show. Here are some highlights from his remarks:

"Thank you Senator Allen for that great introduction. Just think, one day I'll be able to tell my grandchildren that I was once introduced by the Pres…….Junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia."

"And let me just say it was an honor to be selected as the keynote speaker at this years Shad Planking. At least I thought it was until someone reminded me that no Attorney General who has been keynote here has ever been elected to another office!"

"Jim Webb is also with us. Jim, as a fellow veteran, I salute your service. But I am a little confused; does your campaign as a Democrat for Senate mean that your annual Summer Republican Cook-Out is canceled? Just need to know if we should reschedule."

"Jim is already doing his part to fit into the party of John Kerry. After all, Jim Webb was for George Allen before he was against him."

2005 Event

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore and his Democratic counterpart, Timothy M. Kaine spoke at the 2005 Shad Planking. Va. State Senator Russ Potts was not allowded to speak, his supporters passed out stickers, "Let Russ Speak". Potts had a bluegrass band "Lagerhead" from Winchester play at his tent. "Go Russ Go" Pott's campaign song was played live at the Shad Planking.