The Thurmont Grange #409 recently presented dictionaries to all third-grade students at Lewistown Elementary School. This is a community service project called “Words for Thirds” and all of the third grade students in the Catoctin feeder system have also received dictionaries (Sabillasville, Lewistown, Thurmont, and Emmitsburg Elementary Schools).

The Grange is an agricultural organization, which is deeply rooted in the community. Many of its members are farmers, business men and women, and its focus is on community service, legislation, education, and agriculture.  Many of our members hold local, county, and state offices to promote the Grange.

Every year, the Grange helps at events such as the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show, the Frederick Fair (where we put in an exhibit at the Farm and Garden Building), the Catoctin Colorfest, and the annual Cookie Walk in December, to name a few. The Grange holds a Veterans’ Appreciation Night in October, and has also donated funds and items to the Thurmont Food Bank, Catoctin FFA, Boy Scouts, Catoctin Safe and Sane, and so forth. 

The dictionary has many features, such as the history of the Presidents of the United States, the solar system, sign language, and also the longest word in the United States.

Lewistown Elementary—Shown presenting the dictionaries are: (back row) Cheryl Lenhart, Thurmont Grange member, and Principal Belinda Fockler; (front row) Mila Davis, Lauren Hunter, Mady French, Grace Cassella, Olive Rinker, and Brayden Lovejoy, all third-grade students at Lewistown Elementary School.

Thurmont Elementary—(front row) Thurmont Elementary School third-graders, Alayna Conrad, McKinnly Glotfelty, Connor McGrew, Owen Ott, and Jaiden Poole; (back row) Grange members, Jodi Eyler, Rodman Myers, Karl Williams (TES Principal), Carol Long, Sue Keilholtz, and Nancy Wine.

Emmitsburg Elementary— Robert Wiles, Shane Baker, Emily McMahan, Sophia Myers, Jaxon Reaver, and Amber Madigan (Principal).