ELKINS — The Board of Directors of the Mountain State Forest Festival is pleased to announce their appointment of Peggy G. Phillips as Director General of the 86th Mountain State Forest Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place from Sept. 28 through Oct. 6.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen as Director General for the 86th Mountain State Forest Festival. I am blessed to be able to work with a fantastic group of Assistant Directors this year,” said Phillips.

“I am excited to see the teamwork, comradery, and event support this elite group of Assistant Directors are bringing to the 86th festival. This year’s theme is ‘Timeless Traditions’ and I have chosen the theme ‘A Forest Fairytal’ for the Parade of Children. My family and I have always loved the festival and we enjoy when it becomes ‘Forest Festival time.’

“When I think back on growing up in Randolph County and attending the festival each year with my family and friends, I am reminded of many festival traditions. They are, and will always be ‘timeless,’ not only to me, but to the citizens of Randolph County, too. This is how this year’s theme came to life,” Phillips explained.

Phillips previously served as Deputy Director General in the 85th festival, served four years as Queen’s Department Director and one year as a Queen’s Department Assistant.

Phillips volunteered on several festival committees including Distinguished Guest Dinner and Queen’s Ball; Band Field Show; Poker Run; Golf Tournament; Banjos, Burgers, and Beer MSFF; Autumn Ales Beer MSFF; Craft Beerfest; and was a chaperone for the Minor Court school tours.

Phillips has been employed by the United States Department of Justice since 1995 and works as a Management and Program Analyst. A member of the Phillips Chapel United Methodist Church, she and her husband, Junior, are the parents of Hannah and Michael. Hannah served as a Flower Girl in the 77th festival and, most recently, as a Maid of Honor in the 84th festival. The Phillips family have been active volunteers with the MSFF for many years.

More information about this year’s festival is available by following the Mountain State Forest Festival page on Facebook, visiting the website at www.forestfestival.com, or by calling the festival office at 304-636-1824.

https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2024/03/phillips-named-86th-mountain-state-forest-festival-director-general/

ELKINS – The Mountain State Forest Festival Association announces Lydia Jones has been elected President of its Board of Directors.

Jones was born and raised in Elkins and is a graduate of Elkins High School. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She currently manages Perfection Plus Turbo-Dry, LLC and serves as property manager of Wagner Properties, LLC.

Jones served as an Assistant to the Queen’s Department in 2009 and 2010, and was appointed as Director of the Queen’s Department in 2011, where she served in that capacity for three years. She was appointed Director General in 2015 and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. She served as Vice-President in 2022 and 2023.

Jones is a member of the First United Methodist Church. She is a board member of Interact Children’s Museum, and PTA President at Midland Elementary School.

She is married to Grant Jones, and they have one son, Max, who served as Crown Bearer in the 2022 Mountain State Forest Festival. Her family has held the Princess Parade Welcoming at their office since 2006. Lydia was a princess in the 2003 Mountain State Forest Festival, and her brother was a Train Bearer in 1988.

Other elected members of the Mountain State Forest Festival Board of Directors include Scott Harris, Bill Hartman, Hugh Hitchcock, Mike Karlen, Ray LaMora, Cricket Leary, Kathy Leombruno, Cliff Marstiller, Robin Miller, Robbie Morris, Frank Santmyer, Ben Shaffer, Chad Shoemaker, and Bob Wamsley. Community Board members include David Kesling, Susie Kump, Jerry Marco, Shelby Searls and Chris Wood.

“I am humbled and excited to serve as President of the Board of Directors of the Mountain State Forest Festival,” Jones said. “The entire board is supportive and works hard to ensure our legacy continues as one of the oldest and largest festivals in the state. We can’t wait to work with Director General Peggy Phillips and her Assistant Directors to put on another fantastic festival as we celebrate the beauty and splendor of our mountains and valleys.”

The state’s largest and oldest festival is scheduled for Sept. 28-Oct. 6.

Additional information about the Mountain State Forest Festival is available online at www.forestfestival.com.

https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2024/02/jones-elected-msff-board-president/

ELKINS – Mountain State Forest Festival officials have announced the kickoff of the annual Woodly the Elf poster contest for the 86th autumn celebration.

Woodly the Elf is the official mascot of the Mountain State Forest Festival.

The poster contest, now in its 45th year, is held to select the student who will have the honor of serving as Woodly the Elf. The poster winner will become a member of the Royal Minor Court of Queen Silvia LXXXVI, and make appearances at the Buckwheat Festival and Strawberry Festival.

The Woodly the Elf contest is open to Randolph County students in second, third or fourth grades – including home school, private or public schools. Four runner-ups will be chosen and invited to ride on the Woodly the Elf float in the Grand Feature Parade.

Entry forms are available at local elementary schools, the Mountain State Forest Festival office located at 10 11th Street, Office F, and at Citizens Bank in Elkins and Beverly. Entry forms may also be downloaded at www.forestfestival.com or you can visit the Facebook page of the Mountain State Forest Festival or Citizens Bank of West Virginia.

Woodly the Elf’s costume and associated fees are paid for by the sponsor, Citizens Bank of West Virginia.

Rules of the contest are as follows:

1. The poster must depict Woodly the Elf, preferably watching or participating in one or more Mountain State Forest Festival events. The theme “Timeless Traditions” should also be clearly depicted on the front of the poster.

2. The poster is to be on a 22-inch by 28-inch poster board.

3. Poster must be submitted by one individual; this is not a group project.

4. Be creative and imaginative. You may use glue, glitter, material, etc. in your design. You may not use photos or any identifying text on the front of the poster.

5. Only one entry per student is permitted.

6. On the back of the poster, you must write and sign: “I have completed this poster by myself,” with the student’s signature.

Completed posters can be returned to the child’s school or dropped off at the festival office at 10 11th Street, Office F.

Contest entries are due by March 15. No late entries are accepted.

The 86th edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 28 – Sunday, Oct. 6. For more information, please visit the Mountain State Forest Festival website at www.forestfestival.com or via e-mail at [email protected].

https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2024/02/woodly-the-elf-poster-contest-now-underway/

ELKINS — An annual Mountain State Forest Festival quilting contest that is open to the public is getting underway.

The Elkins Sewing Center, in cooperation with the Mountain State Forest Festival, is pleased to announce that kits are available for the 2024 Queen’s Quilt Challenge.

This annual block challenge results in the creation of a beautiful quilt which is given to Queen Silvia during the Closing Ceremony.

A challenge packet of six fabrics is available for purchase. Block guidelines are included with the kit. Fall themes are best for this quilt contest, officials said.

Blocks are to be returned to Elkins Sewing Center by May 1 and voting by the public will be available until June 1.

The winners of the 2024 Challenge will be selected by popular vote, so officials ask the public to be sure to come in and select your favorites. Winners will receive gift cards to be used at Elkins Sewing Center.

Packets are available for purchase at Elkins Sewing Center, located at 300 Davis Avenue in Elkins.

For more information, please call 304-636-9480 with any questions.

https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2024/02/msff-queens-quilt-block-contest-begins/