THURMONT, Md. – Over 2,500 farm and garden, household, quilt, livestock, machinery and commercial displays will be featured in the 51st Annual Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show at Catoctin High School this weekend.

“I look for there to be a good turnout,” said Rodman Myers, one of the organizers. “We have people come every year to see old friends and make new ones.”

Between 7,000 and 9,000 people have been attending the community show over the three days of activities. Among those, are around 650 exhibitors who will be competing for about $8,000 in premiums. The premiums are supplied from the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board. Other expenses are held to a minimum because all the help for the show are volunteers.

“This year we’ll be honoring the libraries and all the people who spent so much time making them successful,” Myers said.

The Community Show is recognizing the 100th Emmitsburg Library and the 50th Anniversary of the Thurmont library during the opening night’s ceremonies on Sept. 7. Katie Warthen, Blanche Helmholts, Joan Boyle, Jean Cadle, William Rodman Cadle, Chata Carr and Annette Rapp will be recognized for their contributions to the Emmitsburg Library. Ernest Hammaker, Victor Jagow, Ralph Forward, Grace Smith, William Riffle, Erin Dingle, Helen Flanagan and Margeuerite Baker will be recognized for their work with the Thurmont Library.

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.

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

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