ELKINS — Mountain State Forest Festival Director General Lisa Shaffer announces the appointment of the Queen’s Department for the 87th edition of the Festival. The theme for this year, taking place Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, is “Embrace Nature’s Charm.”
Megan Casto will be returning to serve her third year as the Director of the Queen’s Department, having previously served as a Queen’s Department Assistant in 2022. She will lead the planning, coordination, and delivering of all activities for the Royal Court of the 87th MSFF.
Megan has volunteered on several Festival committees, including Princess Orientation and Princess Ambassadors, Minor Court Committee, Pet Show, and Window Decorating.
She was a Flower Girl in the 1995 MSFF and was a Maid of Honor in the 2008 MSFF. Her husband, Dusty, was a Royal Trumpeteer for the MSFF from 1998-2000. Megan and her husband have two daughters, Callie and Everly. Callie served as a Scepter Bearer in the 2019 MSFF. Megan is employed as an accountant at Woodford Oil Company.
Hannah Shiflett will return for her third year as a Queen’s Department Assistant. Shiflett has previously volunteered on the Minor Court Committee and was a Princess Ambassador. She was a Maid of Honor in the 82nd MSFF and was a Flower Girl in the 72nd MSFF.
Hannah is currently employed as a teacher at Midland Elementary School. Additionally, she is employed at the Gandy Dancer Theatre and Conference Center, where she is in her 12th season, and is the lead dancer and back-up vocalist.
Allicen Simon will return for her second year as a Queen’s Department Assistant.
She has volunteered with the MSFF for many years on several committees, to include, but not limited to: Chairman of the Princess Ambassador Committee, also served as a Princess Ambassador; Chairman of the Princess Housing Committee; and Jester Competition Judge.
Simon is employed as a substitute teacher for the Randolph County Schools. Allicen is married to Mike Simon of Elkins, and they have one daughter Caroline. Allicen served as a Princess in the 2004 MSFF and her daughter Caroline served as a Flower Girl in the 2023 MSFF.
Maid Silvia LXXXVII will be crowned as Queen of the 87th edition of the MSFF during the Royal Coronation at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Citizen’s Bank of WV Outdoor Amphitheatre located on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.
More information is available by visiting festival social media, www.forestfestival.com, or calling the festival office at 304-636-1824.
