THURMONT, Md. – Fifty-four years ago, Emmitsburg began a community show that featured the agricultural and homemaking talents of the community.

“My wife and I used to go to the show and we thought it was nice,” said Rodman Myers, president of the Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show committee. “We worked to get the Thurmont Grange and Thurmont FFA to start their own show.

The Thurmont Community Show began in 1957 in the old Thurmont High School. Emmitsburg’s last community show was in 1958, but when Catoctin High School opened in 1968, “We brought the community together for a combined show,” Myers said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show. It is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Sept. 8-10 at Catoctin High.

“Our show here is bigger than a lot of county fairs on the Eastern Shore,” Myers said.

In 1974, the Catoctin FFA started the beef, sheep and swine show with Robert Valentine, chairman, and William Baker, Ralph Zimmerman and Robert Meunier as auctioneers.

“We used to have the show on Friday night and Saturday, but when we added the beef, sheep and swine show we decided to add Sunday so more people could get to see what we’ve got,” said Myers.

The Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show is free to the 600-650 people who exhibit each year and compete for $9,000 in premiums. That is a far cry from the $75 the show received from the state board during its first year.

The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board supplies premiums. Other expenses are held to a minimum because all the help for the show are volunteers.

Valentine, who is vice president of the committee, added, “The length of our show and the amount of activity you don’t see in other shows in the county.”

Over 2500 farm and garden, household, quilt, livestock, machinery and commercial displays can be seen during the show.

“We have been very, very fortunate with community support at the sale,” said Valentine.

Between 7,000 and 9,000 people are expected to attend this year’s community show.

Community Show booklets with the premium list are now available in area business locations and contain the rules and time of entry of exhibits.

The show is open to the public Friday, Sept. 8 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. At 7 p.m., the opening ceremony will begin in the auditorium with the massing of flags by community civic organizations. The program’s highlight will be the announcement of the 2006-2007 Catoctin FFA Ambassador. The Community Show will honor the 50th anniversary of the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show and recognize all former FFA Chapter Sweethearts and Ambassadors.

The show is sponsored by the Thurmont Grange, the Catoctin FFA Chapter, Catoctin FFA Alumni, Maryland Agricultural Fair Board and the Maryland State Grange.