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Cover Photo: Jason and Addelynn Green with their Ayrshire dairy heifers. Jason received 3rd place in the March Calf Class, and Addelyn won Overall Reserved Champion Dairy Heifer.

2024 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show

Winners of the 68th Annual Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show, held September 6-8, 2024, at Catoctin High School in Thurmont, are listed below. Many thanks to all the judges, coordinators, performers, and volunteers who led, organized, or contributed to this extraordinary annual community event.

50th Anniversary Recognition of Annual Beef, Sheep, Swine & Market Goat Show & Sale
The 50th Anniversary Recognition of the annual Beef, Sheep, Swine and Market Goat Show & Sale was held on Saturday, September 7, prior to the livestock sale.

Bob Valentine (pictured second from left) was honored for his dedication as the show and sale’s chair since its inception and for the following 49 years.

Pictured on the left is Shelby Green, Livestock Committee member, who presented Bob with a special plaque from the Community Show Committee that honored Bob as Emeritus Vice President of the Community Show. 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz (pictured third from left) presented Bob with an antique handsaw, hand-painted with an agricultural scene by Robin Sharrer. Also recognized were the following exhibitors from the 1974’s first livestockshow and sale: Chip Long (pictured center), representative for his sister, Gwen Long Kuster, Patty Keilholtz Kerns (pictured second from right) and Rodman Myers (pictured far right). Absent was Mike Baust, and additional 1974 exhibitors—now deceased—were Joe Wivell, Dallas McNair, and Harry Swomley. The annual show and sale is sponsored by the Catoctin FFA Alumni & Supporters, which has been a highlight of the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show for 50 years!

Calvin Sayler, a Catoctin area farmer and Hereford cattle breeder, lived on a farm in Rocky Ridge and was a member of the Catoctin FFA Alumni. He felt very strongly that the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show should have a beef cattle sale.

On September 13, 1974, the first beef cattle sale was held when seven 4-H, Grange, and Catoctin FFA Alumni members exhibited nine cattle. Four of the seven are still living for the 50th Anniversary: Gwen Long Kuster, Patty Keilholtz Kerns, Mike Baust, and Rodman Myers. Three additional exhibitors at the first Livestock Show & Sale were Joe Wivell, Dallas McNair, and Harry Swomley, who are now deceased. Along with Thurmont High School’s Vocational Agriculture teacher, Bill Baker, Rodman Myers helped to start the

Community Show 68 years ago. Bob Valentine, who was in the ninth grade at the time, was the master of ceremonies for the first Community Show program under Bill Baker’s leadership. Bill Baker was the livestock sale’s auctioneer for its first year, while Bob Valentine was the show’s first-year chair and served as chair for the next 49 years. Under Bob’s leadership, both the show and sale expanded over the years with the addition of sheep, swine, and goats. Both Rodman Myers and Bob Valentine have attended all the annual Community Shows over its 68-year history!

This annual event has been a highlight of the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show, the largest community show in the State of Maryland. Thanks to Calvin Sayler for his vision to make this annual Beef, Sheep, Swine and Market Goat Show & Sale a reality!

The 2024 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Pet Show was held on Saturday, September 7. There were 26 exhibitors who exhibited 58 pets. The judges were Mary Ann Fisher and Wil Valentine. Many thanks to Dave Harman, Dave Johnston, and Bobby Myers, who all helped with the event.

The Grand Champion winner received a $25 gift card, donated by Tractor Supply Company. The Reserve Grand Champion received a $15 gift card, donated by The Dirty Dawg. Each participant received treats for their animals and also free ice cream cone wooden coins, donated by Roy Rogers. Winners were as follows:

Cat with Prettiest Eyes: 1st—Paula Garman; 2nd—Matt Rice; 3rd—Heather Rice

Cat with the Longest Whiskers: 1st—Paula Garman (7 cm); 2nd—Matt Rice (5 cm)

Pet with the Most Spots: 1st—Matt Rice; 2nd—Sierra Bennett

Largest Pet (by height): 1st—Jennifer Wager; 2nd—Michelle Sanville

Dog with the Waggiest Tail: 1st—Morgan Kolb; 2nd—Sierra Bennett; 3rd—Jennifer Wager

Prettiest Dog – 25 lbs. & under: 1st—Emma Donnelly; 2nd—Caroline Chism; 3rd—Trace Rhinehart

Prettiest Dog – 26 lbs. & over: lst—Morgan Kolb; 2nd—Stacey Flanigan; 3rd—Michelle Sanville

Dog with the Prettiest Eyes: 1st—Stacey Flanigan; 2nd—Emma Donnelly; 3rd—Michelle Sanville

Cutest Pet (other than a cat or dog): 1st—Sierra Bennett

Cutest Cat: 1st—Matt Rice; 2nd—Lisa Rice; 3rd—Heather Rice

Smallest Pet: 1st—Heather Rice; 2nd—Trace Rhinehart

Best Costumed Pet: 1st—Charlotte Donnelly; 2nd—Morgan Kolb; 3rd—Megan Clark

Most Unusual Pet: 1st—Lisa Rice (Siamese cat); 2nd—Michelle Sanville (Samoyed dog); 3rd—Heather Rice (Siamese cat)

Best Trained Pet: 1st—Sierra Bennett; 2nd—Megan Clark; 3rd—Stacey Flanigan

Grand Champion: Sierra Bennett (Best-trained Pet)

Reserve Grand Champion: Emma Donnelly (Prettiest Dog – 25 lbs. & under)

Barnyard Olympics
The 2024 Barnyard Olympics were held at the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Many thanks to Dave Harman, Bobby Myers and Dave Johnston for chairing the event. Each winner received a ribbon and will receive a premium check from the Community Show. Roy Rogers of Thurmont also donated a free ice cream cone coupon to all the winners. The winners were based on the fastest time for their age group:

Ages 5 & 6: 1st—Bexlie McIlrath; 2nd—Morgan Ridinger; 3rd—Nathaniel Brauning.

Ages 7 & 8: 1st—Piper McCrea; 2nd—Leighton McIlrath; 3rd—Ella Eaves.

Ages 9 & 10: 1st—Savanna Bianco; 2nd—Bryce Dennis, 3rd—Dylan Ridinger.

Ages 11-13: 1st—Zachary Bianco; 2nd—Kamdin Miller; 3rd—Naomi Rice.

Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Champions & Reserve Champions
The following were the Champion and Reserve Champion winners at the 2024 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show, held September 6-8 at Catoctin High School in Thurmont. Each Champion and Reserve Champion winner will receive additional premium money, and Bollinger’s Restaurant will provide a gift certificate to each Department Champion. Carleo Pizza in Emmitsburg will provide a gift certificate to each Reserve Department Champion.

Fresh Fruits: Champion –Kylie Robertson (Sugar Giant Peaches); Reserve Champion – Katelyn Robertson (Cameo Apples); Fresh Vegetables: Champion

– Roxanne Lambert (Eggplant); Reserve Champion – Ashley Atkins (Sunflower); Home Products Display: Champion – Katelyn Robertson; Reserve Champion –

Angie Mathews; Canned Fruit: Champion – Pamela Long (Others – Green Tomato Mince Meat); Reserve Champion – Joannne Fuss Ricketts (Grape Juice); Canned

Vegetables: Champion – Donald Stanley (Spaghetti Sauce); Reserve Champion – Bridgette Kinna (Others – Bruschetta); Jellies & Preserves: Champion – Jane

Redding (Other – Peony Tree Jelly); Reserve Champion – Bridgette Kinna (Syrup – Maple Walnut Syrup); Pickles: Champion – Pam Long (Pepper Relish); Reserve

Champion – Ley Favorite (Dill Pickles); Meat: (Canned) – Champion – Melissa Kinna (Canned Tenderloin); Reserve Champion – Terri Morgan (Canned Beef);

Home Cured Meats: Champion – Catoctin FFA Alumni (Country Ham); Reserve Champion – Catoctin FFA (Country Ham).

Baked Products: Cake – Champion – Karen Willard (Chocolate Cake); Reserve Champion – Cheryl Lenhart (Coconut Cake); Honorable Mention Cake – Burall

Brothers Scholarship – Maxine Troxell (Chiffon Cake); Bread: Champion – Caitlin Jaquith (Bread, Other Variety – Cinnamon Babka); Reserve Champion – Kelly Glass

(Pumpkin Bread); Pie: Champion – Denise Valentine (Blackberry Pie); Reserve Champion – Melissa Kinna (Apple Pie); Sugar Free: Champion – Joyce Kline

(Sugar Free Cake – Yellow with Chocolate Icing); Reserve Champion – Phyllis Eiker (Sugar Free Cookies); Gluten-Free Baked Product: Champion – Karen

Willard (Gluten Free Cake); Reserve Champion – Beth Shriner (Gluten Free Cake); Misc. Baked Product Champion: Champion – Vicky Sharrer (Hard Candy);

Reserve Champion – Cheryl Lenhart (Chocolate Fudge); Grand Champion Cake (Youth Department – In Honor and Memory of Mearl McCleaf): Champion

– Masyn Sanders (Cake with Fruit – Lemon Blueberry); Reserve Champion Cake – Masyn Sanders (Other Variety – Pumpkin Cake); Youth Misc. Baked Product:

Champion – Lauren Kelley (Drop Cookies); Reserve Champion – Masyn Sanders (Fruit Pie – Apple); Junior Department Baked Product: Champion – Ryleigh

Ensor (Cake with Fruit – Applesauce Raisin); Reserve Champion – Dylan Ridinger (Pound Cake); Junior Department Misc. Baked Product: Champion – Bryce

Yocum (Muffins); Reserve Champion – Bryce Yocum (Fruit Pie – Caramel Apple). Fabric and Fiber Arts (Sewn Items): Champion – Sherry Topper (Sewn Item

– Original); Reserve Champion – Karen Willard (Sewn Item – Other); Fabric and Fiber Arts (Misc. Fiber Items): Champion – Charlotte Dutton (Fiber item –

Animals – Felted); Fabric and Fiber Arts (Crocheting): Champion – Charlotte Sullivan (Crochet, Stripe); Reserve Champion – Shirley Greene (Crochet, Other);

Fabric and Fiber Arts (Cross Stitch): Champion – Sharon Brooks (Cross Stitch – Picture); Reserve Champion – Kathy Hoffman (Cross Stitch, Other); Fabric

Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Champions & Reserve Champions

and Fiber Arts (Crewel, Embroidery & Needlepoint): Sharon Brooks (Crewel); Reserve Champion – Shirley Greene (Embroidered Pillow); Fabric and Fibert Arts

(Knitting): Champion – Phyllis Ecker (Sweater); Reserve Champion – Tracy Lewis (Scarf); Fabric and Fiber Arts (Quilts & Quilted Items): Champion – Peggy Elgin

(Quilts – Blocks); Reserve Champion – Karen Willard (Quilts – Made by Hand and Machine); Fabric and Fiber Arts (Rugs): Champion – Tracy Lewis (Rugs, other).

Flowers & Plants: Champion – Roxanna Lambert (Side Table Arrangement); Reserve Champion – Melissa Beil (Potted Foliage); Fine Arts: Champion – Robert Keilholtz (Acrylics); Reserve Champion – Kathy Ellis (Watercolor); Arts & Crafts: Champion – Bill Stottlemyer (Decorations, Patriotic); Reserve Champion – Ley

Favorite (Fiber & Textiles); Color Photography: Champion – Grace Blanchard (Building/Architecture); Reserve Champion – Joyce Kline (People/Selfie); Black & White Photography: Champion – Kaitlyn Schildt (Still Life); Reserve Champion – Patrick McIlrath (Children – under age 18).

Corn: Champion – Brooke Ridinger (Indian Corn – 10 ears); Reserve Champion – Brian Harbaugh (Hybrid Corn); Small Grain & Seeds: Champion – Makayla

Comer (Soybeans, 1 jar); Reserve Champion – Preston Clark (Timothy, 1 jar); Eggs: Champion – Brooke Ridinger (Brown Eggs); Reserve Champion – Ashley Atkins (White Eggs); Nuts: Champion – Kevin Long (Black Walnuts); Reserve Champion – Edward Hahn (English Walnuts).

Rabbit: Champion – Olivia Dutton (Breeding Rabbit – Buck); Reserve Champion – Kara Wolf (Dwarf Rabbit – male or female); Poultry: Champion – Charlotte Dutton (Poultry Exhibit – 1 hen); Reserve Champion – Wade Wolf (Turkey – Tom); Dairy: Champion – Patrick Venables (Ayrshire Spring Yearling); Reserve Champion –Addie Green (Ayrshire – Spring Calf); Dairy Goats: Champion – Tristan VanEcho (Doe in Milk – 5 years); Reserve Champion –Tyrone VanEcho (Doe in Milk – 5 years); Hay: Champion – Caroline Clark (Alfalfa Hay); Reserve Champion – Caroline Clarke (Timothy Hay); Straw: Rodman Myers (Barley Straw); Reserve Champion – Caroline Clarke (Straw – Oat).

Junior Department: Bexlie McIrath (Metal Craft – Mouse); Reserve Champion – Paytin Moore (Craft, Recycled Material – Corn); Youth Department: Champion – Preston Clark (Sewn item, Misc. ages 11-13 – Vest); Reserve Champion – MaKayla Comer (Craft – Painted Rock – Rock Pond).

Beef: Champion – MaKayla Comer; Reserve Champion – Hayden Hahn; Beef Heifer: Champion – Peyton Davis; Reserve Champion – Garrett Troxell; Sheep: Champion – Chloe Keilholtz; Reserve Champion – Caleb Roberts; Ridenour Lamb – Peyton Davis; Swine: Champion – Peighton Rhinehart; Reserve Champion –

Destiney Briggs; Market Goat: Champion – Alyssa Costa; Reserve Champion – Chloe Glass. Pet Show: Sierra Bennett (Cutest Pet – Other than a cat or dog); Reserve Champion– Emma Donnelly (Prettiest Dog – 25 lbs. and under); Decorated Animal Champion – Preston Clark (Strawberry Ice Cream and Banana Split).

Grand Champion Steer (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz, Buyer Jason Trump, and Exhibitor Makayla Comer.

Grand Champion Goat (from left): Banner holder, Carly Ridenour; Buyers Zac Virtz and Karlie Bosley of Legacy Livestock Auction LLC; Exhibitor Alyssa Costa; and 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz.

Grand Champion Lamb (from left): Rosette ribbon holder, Joshua Wivell; banner holder, Chloe Mathias; Buyer representatives from Mike’s Farm Market, Terri and Mike Pue; 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; and Exhibitor Chloe Keilholtz.

Grand Champion Hog: Banner holder, Chloe Mathias (far left); Exhibitor Peighton Rhinehart (back center); (behind) Buyers Stacy and Jay Bureau with their son, Dominic; and 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz.

The winner of the 2024 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Decorated Animal Contest was (center) Champion, Preston Clark (strawberry ice cream and banana split); (on right) judge Ryan Haines of Taneytown; and (on left) 2024- 2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador

Pet Show (from left): Co-chair Dave Johnston; Chair Dave Harman; Reserve Grand Champion, Emma Donnelly (Prettiest Dog — 25 lbs. and under); Grand Champion, Sierra Bennett (Besttrained Pet); 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; and Judges, Mary Ann Harbaugh and Judge Wil Valentine.

Winners in the 43rd Annual Robert Kaas Memorial Horseshoe Pitching Contest for 2024: (front row) 1st—Gary Hoffmaster and Johnny Buhrman; (back row) 2nd—Donnie Kaas and Dale Kaas; 3rd—Dave Miller and Gary Willard.

Pictured (from left) are Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird and Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Co-Founder & President C. Rodman Myers.

Department Champions and Reserve Champions Table.

Reserve Champion Cake (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Cheryl Lenhart, holding her coconut cake; and South Mountain Collision Center buyer Kenny Keeney. Winning bid funds benefit the Catoctin FFA Alumni & Supporters.

Grand Champion Cake (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Karen Willard, holding her chocolate cake with chocolate icing with almonds; and Catoctin Mountain Seed Corn buyers Bobby Myers and (not pictured) Rodman Myers. Winning bid funds benefit the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show. Karen Willard also won the Grand Champion Gluten Free Baked Product, a German apple cake, purchased by Emmitsburg’s Vigilant Hose Company. The winning bid funds benefit the Catoctin FFA Alumni & Supporters Scholarship.

Honorable Mention Cake (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Maxine Troxell; and buyer Joany Jackman. Winning bid funds benefit the Burall Brothers Grange Scholarship Fund.

Grand Champion Sugar Free Baked Product (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Joyce Kline, holding her yellow cake with chocolate icing; and buyer Carroll Shry. Winning bid funds benefit the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show.

Grand Champion Bread (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Caitlin Jaquith, holding her cinnamon babka; and buyer representatives Ella and Adalyn Eaves for Brandon & Jayme Zimmerman.

Grand Champion Pie (from left): Buyer Ralph Hansberger; baker Denise Valentine, holding her blackberry pie; and buyer Jimmy Summers. Winning bid funds benefit the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show

Junior Dept (10 & under) Champion Misc. Baked Product (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Bryce Yocum, holding his blueberry muffins purchased by his grandmother Nancy Yocum. Winning bid funds benefit the Sabillasville Environmental School.

Junior Dept (10 & under) Grand Champion Cake (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Ryleigh Ensor; and Emmitsburg’s Vigilant Hose Company’s buyer representative Tim Clarke, holding her applesauce raisin cake. Winning bid funds benefit the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Food Banks.

Youth Dept (11-18) Champion Misc. Baked Product (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Lauren Kelley, holding her S’mores cookies; purchased by Windsor Customs LLC (not pictured). Winning bid funds benefit the Sabillasville Environmental School.

Youth Dept (11-18) Grand Champion Cake (from left): 2024-2025 Catoctin FFA Ambassador Kaitlynn Bentz; baker Masyn Sanders, holding his lemon blueberry cake with lemon buttercream icing; and Mountain Gate Family Restaurant buyer representative Caleb McCleaf. Youth Grand Champion Cake is In Honor & Memory of Mearl McCleaf and benefits these three youth-related funds: Thurmont Grange Scholarship, Catoctin FFA’s National FFA Convention Trip and Catoctin FFA Alumni & Supporters Scholarship.

A Family Tradition

Burrier Becomes FFA State Officer

Alisha Yocum

For Ella Burrier, agriculture has always been a way of life. From the age of eight, she was actively involved in 4-H, where she raised rabbits and turkeys and took part in various craft projects. So, when she began her freshman year at Catoctin High School (CHS), it was only natural for her to join the Future Farmers of America (FFA), a student organization that fosters interest in agriculture and leadership.

Burrier’s deep connection to agriculture and FFA runs in the family (pictured above). Her parents, Tatiana and Seth, were both FFA members, making her involvement a continuation of a cherished family tradition.

“It’s just what our family does,” Burrier said, reflecting on the important role FFA has played in shaping her and her family’s life.

After graduating from CHS in May, Burrier is taking her passion to the next level as she steps into a leadership role as Maryland State FFA Vice President. She applied for a state officer position back in the spring. Once her application was reviewed, she went before a 10-person panel to complete an interview process, and she had to develop and present a workshop. A total of six offices were up for grabs. Although applicants don’t apply for a specific office, Burrier was selected by the panel to serve as vice president for the next year.

Burrier is the fourth person in her family to serve as an FFA Maryland State Officer. Burrier’s mom and two aunts were selected as Maryland State Officers upon graduating high school.

Burrier has already hit the ground running after being installed at the 96th Maryland FFA State Convention in June. In her role as Maryland State Vice President, Burrier spends her time promoting agriculture around the state by attending Maryland FFA Chapter events and talking to agriculture businesses.

“I have already learned so much about Maryland agriculture, and I am proud to be representing our small town,” expressed Burrier.

You will also find Burrier at upcoming local agriculture events, including the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show and the Great Frederick Fair. At the Fair, she will be a part of the Frederick County FFA Greenhand and Character Counts Ceremony, highlighting first-year FFA members and FFA members with outstanding character, as well as educating youth in the City Street Country Roads building throughout the week.

When asked what advice Burrier would give to those considering joining FFA, she replied, “I highly recommend getting involved and getting involved in competitions and, most importantly, be yourself—authenticity is a huge part of FFA.”

Ella Burrier, Maryland FFA State Vice President, sits on her grandfather’s 1952 Super M farm tractor. Cover Photo Credit: Brittany Thomas Photography

Ella Burrier, 2024-2025 State Vice President

Tatiana Smith, 1996-1997 State Reporter

Hope Burrier, 1994-1995 State Sentinel

Meaghan Smith, 1989-1990 State Chaplain

FFA State Officers tour Arlington National Cemetery.

Ella with the National FFA President Amara Jackson.

The Burrier Family at the Great Frederick Fair with their rabbits.

2024 Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day Winners

Submitted by the Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day Committee

All Emmitsburg residents and visitors who attended this year’s Community Heritage Day on Saturday, June 29, were the real winners, from the delicious breakfast at the Vigilant Hose Activities Building on Creamery Way to the last fireworks as they lit up the night sky after a torrential rainfall! It was a wonderful day, and we hope everyone enjoyed it throughout.

Listed below are the winners of the contests held all day. Thanks to all of our wonderful sponsors and all the organizations who made the day possible. We will see you next year!

Greased Pig Chase Winners: Age group 1-6 — Paisley Iaea; Age group 7-11— Gage Creager; Age group 12-16 — Naomi Hahn; Age group 17 & Up — Dan Novak.

Sack Races (Singles): Ages 1-4 — (1st) Cole Stone, (2nd) Annie Hahn; Ages 5-8 — (1st) Robbie, (2nd) Mary Krom; Ages 9-12 — (1st) Gage Creager, (2nd) Jackson Cichocki/ Isaiah Lopez; Ages 13-16 — (1st) Bernadette Hahn, (2nd) Xavier Myers/Stella Miravalle; Ages 17 & Up — (1st) Adam Knox, (2nd) Tim McCartney/Macy McRae.

Sack Races (Doubles): Ages 1-4 — (1st) Rayne Marlow/Kynslee Miller, (2nd) Chase Cool/Robert Dewees; Ages 5-8 — N/A; Ages 9-12 — (1st) Keane Burns/Riley Hoover, (2nd) Jerome Turner/Louis Turner; Ages 13-16 — (1st) Bernadette Hahn/ Stella Miravalle, (2nd) Sophia Myers/Matt Myers; Ages 17 & Up — (1st) Adam Krom/ Matthew Krom, (2nd) Bridgette McCarthy/Tim McCarthy and Madeline Myers/Xavier Myers.

Egg Toss: 1st place — Madeline Myers/Matt Myers; 2nd place — Ambrose Turner/ Cassian Miravalle.

Water Balloon Toss: 1st place — Symeon Turner/Cassian Miravalle; Bridgette McCarthy/Lauren Manouve; 2nd place — Jason Krom/Scott Krom.

Pie Eating Contest: Ages 1-4 — (1st) Cole Stone/Kayson Hall; Ages 5-8 — (1st) Leah Krom, (2nd) Mary Krom/Grant Satterlee/Eleanor Satterlee; Ages 9-12 — (1st) Gage Creager; Ages 13-16 — (1st) Naomi Hahn, (2nd) Kristen Mills; 17 & Up (1st) — Erin Crum, (2nd) Kate Emory.

Watermelon Eating Contest: Ages 1-4 — (2nd) Zoey Riveria; Ages 5-8 — (1st) Leah Krom; Ages 9-12 — (1st) Mason Rivera, (2nd) Marc McRae; Ages 13-16 — (1st) Kristen Mills, (2nd) Xavier Myers; Ages 17 & Up — (1st) Jack McCarthy, (2nd) Erin Crum.

Chalk Art Contest Winners: Ages 1-4 — (1st) L. Rocha, (2nd) Goudy, (3rd) Viella; Ages 5-7 — (1st) A. Hudson, (2nd) Leah, (3rd) Aubrey Blair; Ages 8-10 — (1st) E. Blair, (2nd) P. Lanfro, (3rd) Mary Krom; Ages 11-12 — (1st) Cora Krom, (2nd) Sophia Myers, (3rd) Lucy Huhn; Ages 13 & Up — (1st) Taylor M., (2nd) Kristen Mills, (3rd) Sarah Krom.

Tyrian Lodge Horseshoe Tournament Winners: (1st) Brendan Allison/Gary Hoffmaster, (2nd) Paul Eyler/Rich Brown, (3rd) Jeff Robertson/Andrew Long.

Cool’s Legacy Cornhole Tournament Winners: Tournament #1 — (1st) Andrew Long/ Josh Hurley, (2nd) Ben Randolph/partner, (3rd) Dalton Sayler/Woody Evans; Tournament #2 — (1st) C. Wesley Grimes/Dale Tressler, (2nd) Steve Topper/Dalton Sayler; Airmail Challenge — (1st) Wes Grimes.

Parade Winners: Best Community Service — Emmitsburg Library; Most Entertaining — Catoctin-Aires; Go Soccer! — Catoctin Mountain Futbol; Oldies but Goodies— Heritage Festival Car Show; Tank Amazing — Neil Parrott; Best Community Spirit — Fearless Elite; First Year Celebration — Good Soil Farm; Horsing Around — REM Guided Trail Rides; Best Trailer — CYA Football and Chair; Best in Show Tanker — Fairfield Fire & Rescue.

Leah Krom takes first place in the Watermelon Eating Contest, ages 5-8 group, at the Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day on June 29.

Tyrian Lodge Horseshoe Tournament winners, Brendan Allison and Gary Hoffmaster (1st Place) and Paul Eyler and Rich Brown (2nd Place).

Everyone has tons of fun with the Water Balloon Toss.

Contestants look on as Gage Creager takes the win on the Greased Pig Chase

The 2024 Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day was held on Saturday, June 29.

A much-anticipated hometown celebration, the day featured a car show, a parade, field games, kids activities, craft and vendor show, hayrides and barrel rides, fireworks, contests, music, and much more!

Barrel Rides were a big hit with kids throughout the day.

Cora Krom wins 1st Place in the Chalk Art Contest (ages 11-12).

A happy contestant for the Watermelon Eating Contest.

Christ Community Church water games were enjoyed by all the kids.

Tyrian Lodge Horseshoe Tournament 3rd Place winners, Jeff Robertson and Andrew Long.

Field Games winner shows off her 1st Place medal.

Field Games 2nd Place adult division Sack Race winner.

Pie Eating Contest 1st Place winner proudly holds up her ribbon.

Everly Zecher experiences her first snowfall! Her mom, Sam Zecher said, “From inside the house looking out, Everly definitely loved watching the first snowfall of the season. Yet, once she was in it…definitely not a fan! Like most of us with 2020 as a whole.”

We saw our first significant snowfall of the season on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Here were some local accumulations based on measurements submitted to the National Weather Service: Sabillasville—12.1 inches; Emmitsburg—10 inches; Thurmont—6.0 inches; Woodsboro—5 inches; Point of Rocks—5.8 inches;  Frederick—9,4 inches. Did you measure your snow?

The namesake of our local ‘Cunningham’ Falls has been a mystery for years. Before the reference to the falls as ‘Cunningham’ Falls, around the 1920s, the falls were known as McAfee Falls, Harman Falls, the Cascades, and Hunting Creek Falls.

Recently, a potential answer to the ‘Cunningham’ mystery has been uncovered via the release of a transcript of interviews conducted in 1969 by representatives from the National Park Service with some of the McAfee descendants who were alive during the name transition. These transcripts have been made available by Robert McAfee of Foxville, a descendant of the interviewees.

The interviewees named Mr. and Mrs. Charles McAfee explained that there were several McAfee ‘home places’ around the falls. They acknowledge having births ‘at the falls’ and getting married there. Charles said, “I lived there four years. In 1907, 8 and 9 and10. Then I went up to Foxville.”

Charles explained that he worked in construction ‘under’ Goldsborough and Williams who were constructing youth camps. He said, “They’re the ones – Williams is the one – that named it Cunningham Falls…Williams named it that. Never nobody known like that around here.” When asked why Williams called it Cunningham Falls, Charles said, “I don’t know. No real reason for it. He just picked that and called it that.”

Charles went on to say, “…afterwards [Dr.] Bowman and a bunch of us got together to get rid of that Cunningham business…So, that’s when we tried to get it named McAfee Falls.” Conversation continued about names of the falls, referencing Hunting Creek, the Cascades, and, “when we went to school, it was called the Falls.” They estimated Charles’ reference to attending school to be around 1901.

According to Rose McAfee in a separate interview, it was, “…after they sold the timber long before the government purchased the land, the name was changed to Cunningham Falls. People from away called it Cunningham Falls all of a sudden and people around here called it McAfee Falls.”

To date, these interviews point to the most plausible explanation for the naming of ‘Cunningham’ since the timeline and printed references align.

A May 23, 2018, Frederick News-Post’s “Yesterday” post from “50 Years Ago” referenced that, “A mistake of more than 30 years standing (as of May 23, 1968) was righted recently when Maryland’s Commission on Forests and Parks renamed the falls in Cunningham Falls State Park. The official name is now McAfee Falls, honoring an old Frederick County family which settled in the area in 1790. As a logical follow-up the Forests and Parks Commission is now considering renaming the park Hunting Creek State Park.”

When looking back at the corrective actions taken to remedy this ‘mistake,’ not much was done. At one point, signage was posted “McAfee Falls” at the Falls hiking trail inside Cunningham Falls State Park. Otherwise, correcting the ‘mistake’ referenced in Frederick News Post’s “Yesterday” post has been forgotten.

With this newest discovery of information, we’ll call the ‘Cunningham’ mystery solved. It’s been an interesting path to the ‘facts,’ and we thank all who gave insight.

Regardless of its name, thousands of visitors enjoy the falls every year, which is the State of Maryland’s largest cascading waterfall, standing at 78 feet.

Article by Jane Savage, Administrative Secretary, Sabillasville Elementary

Many parents currently serving on the Sabillasville Elementary School (SES) Parent Group, Inc. are SES Alumni. They started chatting about all the great memories they had of the spring bazaar that was held years ago when they were students, and they wanted to give current students and the community an opportunity to create their own memories, as well, so they re-created the event. They hoped the bazaar would raise funds for the SES Parent Group. Currently, the Parent Group provides activities and educational resources for the students including field trips, cultural arts activities, subscriptions to online reading programs and books, magazines and classroom supplies, and events throughout the year.   

The SES Parent Group revived the bazaar three years ago, and it has grown significantly each year. This year’s Planning Committee consisted of Alisha Yocum (coordinator), Priscilla Blentlinger, Dawn Fisher, Dawn Harbaugh, and Kelsey Norris.  Parent Group members volunteered to put on the bazaar, as well as families, community members, and staff. Alisha Yokum said, “We tried to re-create the event so that it would just be a day of good family fun, while supporting the school. We included ‘old-fashioned’ carnival games, some of which were the same as when it took place 30 years ago. Back then, an auctioneer auctioned off donations from local businesses. This time, we changed that to be a silent auction. We received so much support from businesses within the community, as well as the surrounding communities, through donations to the silent auction.”  The school receives much support from the community and surrounding communities in many different ways all year. Contributors include individuals, businesses, and service organizations. In the past, the bazaar was held the Saturday before Mother’s Day; and plants that were purchased from the Ag classes at the high school were sold at the bazaar. This year, the bazaar was held the first Saturday in June.

In the past, a pie in the face contest, where the principal took a pie in the face from students who won a raffle, was a highly anticipated activity. (Mrs. Severance started this activity when she was the principal).

In sticking with re-creating just “good fun,” the Parent Group decided to broaden the Pie in the Face contest with four staff members volunteering to be candidates. Students cast their votes and Mrs. Krietz (Principal) topped the contest with just over 8,100 votes. Two lucky winners (Abbey Sparkman and Hope LeGore) were then selected from a raffle to smash the pie in her face on the day of the event. A pie in the face of the principal was sure to draw a crowd to the event because who doesn’t want to see the principal take a pie to the face!

About the cover photo: Dalton Wolfe (boy in orange shirt), Noah Bradbury (boy in tank top), and Maycee Grimes (girl in pink shirt) observe as Abbey Sparkman smooshes a pie in SES Principal’s Kate Krietz’ face.

Pictured above: Alayna Sowers (age 8) plucks a duckie for a prize.

Pictured above: Kyle Mullennex is the winner (safety yellow shirt) of a Cake Walk.

Pictured above: Baked goods have always been a big seller at the bazaar.

Pictured above: Even the smallest of tractors competes in the Tractor Show.

The first annual Maryland Iron Festival was held the weekend of May 18 and 19, 2019 in historic Catoctin Furnace, in Thurmont, Maryland, to celebrate the state as a center for the craft of ironmaking. Activities were held within the historic village, as well as Catoctin Mountain Park, and Cunningham Falls State Park. The festival featured traditional blacksmithing, casting and molding demonstrations in partnership with Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, live music and performances, artists and craftspeople, spring plant and flower sales, children’s activities, a “feats of strength” tournament, tours of historic buildings and the iron furnace, delicious historic food, plein air artists, and local wine and craft beer.

Historic structures, such as the Collier’s Log House (ca. 1810) (pictured in background of our cover photo), the Stone Cottage (ca. 1820), and the Catoctin Iron Furnace were open to the public both days.

The newly constructed trail that was constructed and crafted by Catoctin Furnace volunteers with grant monies now links the furnace to the historic village. Visitors and locals enjoyed all facets of the festival. In our cover photo, Barry Riddle, Liam Deveney, Megan Deveney, Abbey Deveney (seated left to right) and Seamus Riddle and Matt Deveney (standing left to right) enjoyed the fresh streamside Catoctin Furnace Trail on Sunday, May 19.

The Catoctin Furnace was built by four brothers in order to produce iron from the rich deposits of hematite found in the nearby mountains. It played a pivotal role during the industrial revolution in the young United States. The furnace industry supported a thriving community, and company houses were established alongside the furnace stack. Throughout the 19th century, the furnace produced iron for household and industrial products. After more than 100 years of operation, the Catoctin Furnace ceased production in 1903.

In 1973, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc., was formed by G. Eugene Anderson, Clement E. Gardiner, J. Franklin Mentzer, and Earl M. Shankle to “foster and promote the restoration of the Catoctin Furnace Historic District…and to maintain the same exclusively for educational and scientific purposes…to exhibit to coming generations our heritage of the past.”

Today, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. is undertaking groundbreaking research, including bioarchaeological research on human remains from the African American cemetery in Catoctin Furnace. In partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and the Reich Laboratory for Medical and Population Genetics at Harvard University, this project is analyzing ancient DNA and the human genome of several revolutionary-era African American workers at Catoctin Furnace. Such research, in conjunction with other technologies, such as stable isotope analysis, could tell us where these workers were born, where they lived throughout their lives, and what constituted their diet. We believe that every life mattered, and every past matters now. By studying and disseminating the results of this research, we hope that people everywhere will get to meet some of these early workers and understand the critical roles they played in the development of our young nation, as well as appreciate the rich, varied trajectories of their lives.

For more information, please call 443-463-6437 or visit catoctinfurnace.org.