The 49th annual Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show was held on September 9, 10 and 11 at the Catoctin High School in Thurmont. There was an excellent attendance all three days and the weather was ideal the entire weekend. This year, the show had approximately 700 exhibitors who entered over 2,800 exhibits.

The Friday evening program opened with 30 community and civic organizations represented in the 30th annual flag ceremony. Roger Troxell, President of the Maryland State Grange, gave the invocation. Catoctin High School senior Warren Zentz sang The Star Spangled Banner.

The Community Show recognized the 50th anniversary of the Emmitsburg Baseball and Softball League. Those receiving certificates were Mary Topper, President, Lisa Krom, Bill Wivell, Austin Umbel, Jack Topper, Jeff Topper, Brian Topper, Roy Wivell, Jr., Donald Kaas and Ben Andrew.

The Community Show also honored the 50th anniversary of Thurmont Elementary School. Receiving certificates were Betty Willard, Alice Stambaugh, Bonnie Strine, Becky Wastler, Meade Eyler, Jody Eyler, Gloria Angleberger, Audrey Baumgardner, Betty Zentz, Jane Nolan, Becky Kerr, Roy Clever, Nancy Styers, and June Glisan.

During the opening ceremony, Frederick County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Linda Burgee congratulated Catoctin High School senior Annie Delauter of Sabillasville who was selected as the 2005 Catoctin FFA Ambassador.

The annual baked products auction was led by auctioneers Roger Rothenhoefer and Mike Miller and brought in a record $8,000. Thurmont’s Maxine Troxell clinched the overall Grand Champion award in addition to the champion awards in pies and breads for a cherry pie and dinner rolls. She was awarded the Grand Champion award for her banana cake which sold to Keyser-Garver Well Drilling of Frederick for a record price of $1,200.00. The contending bidder for the champion cake was Mountain Gate Family Restaurant. Gloriae Green was awarded the champion sugar-free cake award for her diabetic, sugar-free cake.

Other department champions for this year’s Community Show include: Fresh Fruits - Frances Black (sugar giant peaches); Fresh Vegetables - Mary Willhide (bell peppers); Home Products Display - Nancy Rice; Canned Fruit - Pamela Long (pears); Canned Vegetables - Betty Meredith (whole tomatoes); Jellies and Preserves - Tess Hahn (blackberry jelly); Pickles - Robert Wilson (catsup); Meat - Fred Flohr (home-cured ham); Sewing - Margaret Kinnaird (crocheted tablecloth); Flowers and Plants - Roxanna Lambert (side table arrangement); Arts, Paintings & Drawings - Abby Cox (pastel painting); Crafts - Sylvia Goodenough (stained glass); Photography - Rick Bontz (digital landscape); Corn - Bradley Lambert (hybrid corn); Small Grains & Seeds - Rodman Myers (shelled corn); Eggs - Ed Lind (brown eggs); Nuts - Mary Willhide (black walnuts); Poultry & Livestock - Harold Long (female breeding rabbit) ; Dairy - Bobby Groft (Jersey); Goats- Colt Black; Hay - Rodman Myers (barley straw); Junior Sewing - Garrett Buckmeier; Junior Champion Baked Product - Elizabeth Shriver (cookies); Youth Insect Collection - Timothy Cox; Youth Champion Baked Product - Brittany Cole (cake). All department champions received two free buffet dinners, compliments of Cozy Restaurant of Thurmont.

The 31st annual Catoctin FFA Alumni Beef Sheep and Swine Show was judged by Andy Cashman of New Windsor. Robert Valentine, livestock chairman was pleased with the 4-H and FFA livestock exhibited at the show. In the auction, 36 hogs averaged $1.63 a pound; 13 sheep averaged $2.12 a pound and 15 steers averaged $1.55 a pound. Jubilee Foods purchased the Candace Butler’s Grand Champion Steer for $3.00 a pound. The grand champion swine, exhibited by Ashley Ridenour, was purchased by Jubilee Foods for $3.30 a pound. Zachery Fritz’s grand champion market lamb was purchased by Jubilee Foods for $3.30 a pound. Many trophies and banners were donated by area citizens and businesses to the winners and exhibitors.

Local families enjoyed participating in the annual pet show which had over 100 entries this year. The Grand Champion Pet was a cat, shown by Ashley Phoebus. The reserve champion pet was a Miniature Collie dog, shown by Jamie Elsbree. Judges were Judy Schminkey and Stephanie Schminkey of Funkstown, Maryland. The champion dog winner received a grooming gift certificate courtesy of Main Street Groomers. All winners received Thurmont Cooperative donated dog and cat food for the participants. On Sunday, the Dairy and Goat Show was judged by Denny Remsburg of Jefferson, Maryland. The Champion Dairy was a Jersey, exhibited by Bobby Groft and the Reserve Champion was a Brown Swiss, exhibited by Jeffrey Hubbard. The Champion Goat and Reserve Champion Goat were exhibited by Colt Black.

The 9th annual Decorated Animal Contest was held on Sunday and judged by John Kinnaird and Pat Geisinger. First place in this festive event went to Lauren Schur for her rabbit which was dressed as a frog. Second place was awarded to Kimberly Speak for her sheep dressed as a devil. The third place went to Margaret Buckmeier for her decorated dog.

In the 26th annual Catoctin Horseshoe Pitching Contest, first place went to Marshall Matthews and Clyde McClain. Second place was awarded to the team of Jeff Miller and Gary Hoffmaster while third place went to Bob Shaffer and Richard Valentine.

In the 26th annual Log Sawing contest, the men’s singles winner was Mark Valentine. Second place went to Jason Green and in third place was Bernie Hobbs. In the children’s singles division, Ryan Miller earned first place, Aaron Ridge came in second and Richard Carbaugh came in third. In children’s pairs the first place team was Richard Carbaugh and John Mayer. The second place pair was Evan Lambert and Ronnie Lambert. In the ladies division, Tracy Schur and Kelly Neff won first place. The first place men’s team was Jerry Black and Jim Hoover. The second place men’s team was Colt Black and Jason Green and third was Paul Schur and Joe Neff. Dave Harman chaired the fun Barnyard Olympics, which was a huge success this year with approximately 30 children racing the clock. Winners were Ben Boller in first and Travis Moats in second for the 5 to 8 year old group. Steven Cox won first place in the 9 to ages 13 age group while Kristen Myers came in second.

Wolf Furniture of Frederick donated two La-Z-Boy Recliners to benefit the Ag in the Classroom program and the Catoctin FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund. Mark Topper and Ray Coblentz each won a recliner in this raffle. A John Deere pedal tractor, donated by Gladhill Tractor, was won by Bill Wachter; the Pampered Chef Stoneware was won by Barb Danhoff; and a Longaberger basket won by Dawn Hobbs.

The annual Thurmont-Emmitsburg Community Show is an educational agriculture event made possible by many community volunteers and the many citizens who participate in the event. "This is a total community effort that the whole area can be very proud of," said Community Show President Rodman Myers. The show is sponsored by Thurmont Grange, Catoctin FFA Chapter, Catoctin FFA Alumni, The Maryland State Grange and the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board.

Show Honors Local Organizations

In the opening ceremony, the Community Show honored the 50th Anniversary of Thurmont Elementary School and the 50th Anniversary of Emmitsburg Baseball and Softball. The Catoctin Banner apologies that it does not have a photograph of the Emmitsburg award recipients. Honored for Emmitsburg Baseball and Softball League were three generations of the Topper family, Jack, Jeff and Brian Topper, Lisa Krom, Bill Wivell, Austin Umbel, Ben Andrew and Donny Kass. Kass was the manager of the 1985 All-Star team that won the Distric 2 Little League championship.

Receiving the recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Thurmont Elementary School was (photo at left: back row, L-R) Roy Clever, FFA Advisor Robert Beavan , Community Show President Rodman Myers, Bob Valentine, Ag teacher Diane Ogg, Karen Myers, FCPS Superintendent Linda Burgee, (center, L-R) Jane Nolan, Becky Wastler, Audrey Baumgardner, Gloria Angleberger, Alice Stambaugh, June Glissan, (front, L-R) Betty Zentz, Becky Kerr, Meade Eyler, Nancy Styers, Jody Eyler, Bonnie Strine, and Betty Willard.