The 60th annual Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show will be held at Catoctin High School on September 9, 10, and 11, 2016.
Entry of exhibits will take place on Thursday evening, September 8, from 6:00-9:00 p.m., as well as on Friday, September 9, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., in the new gymnasium and in the agriculture department area. Judging will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9, and is closed to the public. Commercial exhibits may be entered on Friday, September 9, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The show will open to the public at 6:00 p.m. A silver offering will be collected to benefit the Thurmont Food Bank and the Emmitsburg Food Bank. Door prizes will be awarded each day.
On Friday night, September 9, at 7:00 p.m., approximately forty participants will participate in the community flag ceremony, accompanied by a bagpipe processional performed by Bill and Andrew Douwes. “The Star Spangled Banner” will be sung by Chad Umbel, former Catoctin FFA student. This year’s program will recognize all former past Maryland State FFA officers who graduated from Thurmont High School, Emmitsburg High School, or Catoctin High School. Following the recognition, the 2016-2017 Catoctin FFA Chapter Ambassador will be announced. The baked goods auction will begin immediately following the program, and the grand champion cake, pie, and bread will be sold at 9:00 p.m.
On Saturday, September 10, the show opens at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 10:00 p.m. Activities include a Market Goat, Beef, Sheep, and Swine Fitting & Showing Contest, from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the Ag Center at the school. The Thurmont Police Department will have a K-9 dog exhibition, featuring “Buddy,” which will be held at 10:00 a.m., immediately before the Pet Show begins in front of the school. The Pet Show will be held at 10:30 a.m. Categories include: cat with prettiest eyes; cat with longest whiskers; cutest cat; best-trained pet; dog with wiggliest tail; prettiest dog (25 pounds and under); prettiest dog (26 pounds and over); best costumed pet; pet with most spots; largest pet (by height); most unusual pet; and smallest pet. The petting zoo, farm animals, and pony rides will also be held on Saturday and Sunday.
The Thurmont Grange will serve their turkey and country ham dinner in the school cafeteria from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. Entertainment for Saturday and Sunday will be performed by the Catoctin Mountain Boys. Performance times on Saturday will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.; and from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the Taylor Brown “Elvis Show” will be performed. On Sunday, the entertainment begins at 1:00 p.m.; the Taylor Brown “Elvis Show” will be performed from 2:00-3:00 p.m. There will be no admission charge for the entertainment.
The 42nd annual Catoctin FFA Alumni Beef, Sheep & Swine Sale will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Ag Center area on Saturday night. There will be approximately twelve beef, twelve sheep, twenty swine, and seven goats for sale by 4-H and FFA members. Buyers are welcome to come to support these individuals and their livestock projects.
Activities begin on Sunday, September 11, at 9:00 a.m., with the Goat Show, followed by the Dairy Show and Decorated Animal Contest. The decorated animal contest will begin at noon.
At 12:00 p.m., the Catoctin FFA Alumni Chicken Bar-B-Que will be held in the cafeteria. The 37th annual Robert Kaas Horseshoe Pitching Contest will begin at 1:00 p.m.
The Log Sawing Contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. under the show tent in the Ag Center area. Another new and fun feature will be a Peddle Tractor Contest for kids, which will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., also in the Ag Center area, and prizes will be awarded.
Exhibits must be removed on Sunday, September 11, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Please note the new deadline to pick up items.
The community show booklets can be found in local Thurmont, Emmitsburg, and surrounding area businesses in late July or early August. New residents of the community are urged to enter and be a part of the Community Show, the largest in the State of Maryland. Some minor additions and deletions will be made in some of the departments.
Departments include: Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Home Products Display, Canned Fruits, Canned Vegetables, Jellies & Preserves, Pickles, Meats, Baked Products, Sewing & Needlework, Flowers and Plants, Arts, Paintings & Drawings, Crafts, Photography, Corn, Small Grains and Seeds, Eggs, Nuts, Poultry & Livestock, Dairy, Goats, Hay, Junior Department, and Youth Department. There is no entry fee. Please visit our website for updated information at www.thurmontemmitsburg communityshow.webs.com.
The Community Show is sponsored by the Thurmont Grange, Catoctin FFA Chapter, Catoctin FFA Alumni, the Maryland State Grange, and the Maryland State Agricultural Fair Board.
