This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show. The show will be held September 8, 9 and 10 and will celebrate its anniversary by recognizing all Catoctin FFA chapter sweethearts and ambassadors and with a very special concert by Thurmont native and famous lyric tenor Richard Troxell.

The event is free of charge (silver offering accepted) and will feature over 2,500 farm, garden, household, quilt, livestock, machinery and commercial displays by area residents.

If you reside within the Catoctin High School boundary areas, you are welcome to participate by entering an exhibit in the show’s numerous categories. There are three different age categories for area residents: Junior Department for ages 10 and under, Youth Department for ages 11-19, and the Adult Department for ages 20 and over. Ribbons and $8,000 in prize money will be awarded. Entries are accepted Thursday, September 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Friday, September 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the high school’s new gymnasium. There is no entry fee for exhibits. To receive a complete list of entry rules and departments, pick up an official Community Show book available at numerous area businesses.

The Community Show will open on Friday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. with a massing of the flags by community civic organizations. The highlight of the program will be the announcement of the 2006-2007 Catoctin FFA Ambassador. Plus, all former FFA Chapter Sweethearts and Ambassadors will be recognized in honor of the show’s 50th anniversary. The opening night’s program will end with the baked goods auction led by auctioneers Roger Rothenhoefer and Mike Miller. Grand champion and reserve champion baked goods will be sold at 9:00 p.m.

On Saturday, the show opens at 9:00 a.m. and continues through 10:00 p.m. Activities include a Beef, Sheep and Swine Fitting & Showing contest from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Ag Center and a pet show, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in front of the school. Entries can be entered on the terrace in front of the school. The pet show is open to all area residents, both young and old.

The Thurmont Grange will serve a turkey and ham supper in the school cafeteria from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Dinner tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12, and $4 for children under 5. The beef, sheep and swine sale will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the agriculture shop area, with over 70 head of beef, sheep and swine to be sold.

Area residents are invited to enjoy a two-part concert on Saturday night at the Community Show. Thurmont Middle School and Catoctin High School bands will begin the evening concert with a musical medley of songs at 7:00 p.m. Following the local bands, Thurmont native and nationally-acclaimed lyric tenor Richard Troxell will perform several vocal selections beginning at 8:00 p.m. The concert is free of charge, however a freewill offering will be accepted.

Farm machinery will be displayed throughout the event and the famous “Cane and Abel” Brown Swiss cattle will be exhibited at the show. Pat and Norman Sampson will have on display their Alpacas and Emu’s will be exhibited by Jim and Peggy Royer. There also will be a petting zoo, pony rides, with various animals for children to pet and take pictures of.

On Sunday, September 10th, the show opens at 10:00 a.m., with a Goat Show at 9:30 a.m. and a Dairy Show at 10:00 a.m. The amusing decorated animal contest will begin at 12:00 p.m. and $50.00 in prize money will be awarded to the winner. Catoctin FFA Alumni will serve a chicken barbecue dinner beginning at 12:00 p.m. Prices are: Tickets will be $7 for adults and $4 for children under 12. Carry-out orders will be $8.

The 27th annual Catoctin Mountain Horseshoe Pitching Contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the 26th annual Cross-Cut Sawing Contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. under the tent in the agricultural center. There are divisions in these contests for men, women, boys and girls.

Barnyard Olympics for youth and adults will be held in front of the school at 1:30 p.m. There will also be a Martial Arts demonstration in the old gymnasium at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Farm machinery, a petting zoo, pony rides, an Alpaca and an Emu display and the famous Brown Swiss Cattle “Cane and Abel” will once again visit the show.

In the gymnasium, the annual Thurmont Branch Library book sale will be held throughout the weekend. Plus, photographs and souvenirs from the Community Show committee, the historical photograph collection of Thurmont photographer John Kinnaird and an antique button and emblem collection courtesy of Helen Mackley will all be on display.

The Thurmont Community Ambulance will offer free blood pressure checkups on both Saturday and Sunday. Frederick County Sheriff’s Department and Farmers & Mechanics Bank will sponsor a children’s identification program from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 9th.

The Community Show will close at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Community Show is sponsored by the Thurmont Grange, Catoctin FFA Chapter, Catoctin FFA Alumni, Maryland Agricultural Fair Board and the Maryland State Grange.