Mountain State Forest Festival Director General, Scott Goddard announces the appointment of the Queen’s Department Director, Deputy Director, and the Assistant Directors for the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival. The theme for the 80th edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival, taking place Saturday, October 1, 2016-Sunday, October 9, 2016, will be “Celebrate!”.
Pictured from left to right: Jon Morgan, Michelle Pratt, Amanda Carter, Jennifer Currence, Todd Riggleman, Chrissy Mullenex, Peggy Phillips (Queen’s Department Director), Scott Goddard (Director General), Chad Shoemaker (Deputy Director General), Robin Miller, Tony Bates, Felicia Hendon, Samantha Davis, Jeff Skidmore, Robbie Morris
Coordinating this year’s Festival will be Queen’s Department Director Peggy Phillips; Deputy Director Chad Shoemaker; and Assistant Directors.
Peggy Phillips will be serving her second year as Queen’s Department Director, having previously served on the Distinguished Guest Dinner and Queen’s Ball Committees. Peggy in the past also volunteered as a chaperone for the Minor Court School Tours and was a Queen’s Department Assistant in 2014. She will lead the planning, coordinating, and delivering of all activities for the Royal Court of the 80th Festival.
Phillips works for the United States Department of Justice as a Management and Program Analyst. A member of the Phillips Chapel which has a United Methodist tradition, Peggy and her husband, William M. Phillips Jr., are the parents of Hannah and Michael. Hannah served as a Flower Girl in the 2013 Forest Festival.
Chad Shoemaker will be working as the Deputy Director General throughout 2016, having previously served as assistant director for 3 years. He and his wife, Christie, have two daughters, Sara and Sophia. Christie served as a Maid of Honor in during the 58th Forest Festival and their daughter Sara served as a Flower Girl in the 75th Forest Festival. He and his family attend the First Baptist Church of Elkins.
Shoemaker is Co-owner of Elkins Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic and is a member of the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. While actively volunteering with the Forest Festival for over a decade, he is also involved with several other aspects of the community. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the YMCA Board of Directors, member of the Tygart Valley Lodge 66 IOOF, and a member of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. For the 80th Forest Festival, Chad will oversee overall Festival support, The Magic of Autumn: Featuring Elkins Native, Illusionist Joshua Jordan, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Motorcycle Drill Team, Ohio Burn Unit, the Raminator Monster Truck Exhibition, and Photography Exhibit.
Anthony “Tony” Bates will serve his second year as a Mountain State Forest Festival Assistant Director. He and his wife, Krista, have three daughters, Presley, Ella, and Haley. Presley served as a Flower Girl in the 2012 Forest Festival and a Jester in the 2014 Forest Festival.
Anthony is employed by Parrack Insurance Agency as an Associate Agent. He is actively involved with the W.V.S.S.A.C. Registered Basketball Officials and is an Executive Board Member of the North Central Officials Board. He is also a member of the Phillips Chapel which has a United Methodist tradition. For the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival he is tasked with the Strongest Man in the Forest Competition, Lumberjack Contest, Miniature Horse Show, and Sanitation.
Amanda Carter will be serving in her fourth year as Assistant Director. She and her husband, Travis, have two daughters, Cadence and Kennedy, and one son, Cohen. Amanda served as Crown Bearer in the 1985 Forest Festival and Princess in the 1999 Forest Festival while Cadence served as Scepter Bearer in the 2011 Forest Festival.
Carter is employed by the Board of Education/Elkins High School and serves as a Counselor. She is a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church. She has chaired the Children’s Parade Committee and assisted on the Band Field Show and Queen’s Ball Committees. This year Carter will oversee the Parade of Children (Theme: “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”), Celebrate Appalachia!: Banjos, Burgers, and Beer Festival, Forest Festival Block Party, and Teen Events/Programming.
Jennifer Currence will serve as a Mountain State Forest Festival Assistant Director for the second time as well. She and her husband, Matthew, have two children, Tyson and Cambrie. Cambrie served as a Flower Girl in the 2009 Forest Festival and a Jester in the 2011 Forest Festival. Jennifer has been a Volunteer for the Mountain State Forest Festival for years working with the Minor Court, Past Court, Past Queens, and Cabaret Committees. For the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival she will lead the charge with Window Decorations, Crafts & More, Hospitality Tents, and the morning events of Sunday, October 9, 2016.
Samantha Davis will be serving her first year as a Mountain State Forest Festival Assistant Director. She is employed at Davis and Elkins College. She was a princess in the 76th Forest Festival in 2012 and her husband, Chris, also served as a Royal Scout in the 65th Festival in 2001. She and her husband attend Summit Church and are also active in the Elkins community. In recognition of her contributions, Samantha was awarded the 2014 Chamber Person of the Year by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. Davis has previously served on numerous Festival committees including; Downtown Window Displays, Distinguished Guest Diner, Queen’s Ball, Pet Show, and has most recently as an assistant coach for the Jesters of the Royal Minor Court. For the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival she will oversee Band Field Show (Primary), Grand Feature Parade Bands, “The Pride of West Virginia” – The Mountaineer Marching Band, 10K Run/Walk, Schedule of Events, and all printed media/press.
Felicia Hendon will serve her sixth year as an Assistant Director. She and her husband, Bobby, have three children, Haylee Bennett, who served as flower girl in the 2007 Forest Festival, step-daughter Lori Flynn and step-son Shannon Hendon.
Hendon is employed at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail as an office assistant. She is also employed at Mary’s Greenhouse part time. She is an active member of St. Brendan’s Catholic Church where she teaches catechism class, and also supports St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She is also a supporter of Relay for Life. She was a princess in the 1982 Forest Festival and has previously assisted with the symphony, windows, princess housing, princess orientation, Distinguished Guest Dinner, Queen’s Ball, Cabaret, decorations for armory, information booth and the photography contest. This year, Hendon will be coordinating the Decorating, Distinguished Guest Dinner & Queen’s Ball (Primary), Get Acquainted Party, Information Booth, and Opening/Closing Ceremonies.
Robin Miller will be serving her fourth year as an Assistant Director. She is employed at Davis Memorial Hospital and is married to Michael. She has served on the Children’s Parade Committee and assisted the Queen’s Department with the Minor Court. She is the Committee Chairwoman for the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Expo and volunteered for more than 10 years with H.O.F.N.O.D. Miller will be coordinating the Grand Feature Parade (Primary), Mountain State Forest Festival Program, and Pardi Gras.
Jon Morgan will begin his fourth year, as well, as an Assistant Director. He is a civil engineer at the U.S.D.A., Forest Service. He and his wife, Jennifer, have one son, Grant, and one daughter, Emma. Jennifer was Crown Bearer in the 1987 Forest Festival and a Maid of Honor in the 2000 Forest Festival. Morgan is a past President of Elkins Kiwanis Club. He has worked on the Lumberjack Competition and Band Field Show Committees. He will be coordinating the Bass Tournament, Tennis Tournament, Cross Country Races, Irish Road Bowling, Primitive Campers, Security, and Communications.
Robert “Robbie” Morris, Jr. will serve as a Mountain State Forest Festival Assistant Director for his second year. Robbie and his wife, Susan, have two daughters Elin and Tinley. Robbie served as the Train Bearer in the 1993 Forest Festival and his father served as an Assistant Director in the early 90s. Recently Robbie housed princesses and served on the Personnel Committee of the Mountain State Forest Festival. Also very active in the Elkins community, Robbie is involved with the following: Elkins Rotary Club, Elkins Main Street Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, Randolph County C.V.B. Board, United Way Board, Corridor H Authority Board, WV Hardwood Alliance Zone Board, WV Economic Development Council Board, and the Southern Economic Development Council Board. Morris attends the Mercy Chapel which has a United Methodist tradition. For this year’s edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival he will be coordinating the Summer Shoot-Out, Horseshoe & Corn Hole Tournament, Parade of Pets & Pet Show, Forestry & Wood Products, Vehicles, and Grand Feature Parade (Secondary).
Chrissy Mullenax will serve her fourth year as an Assistant Director. She is the Executive Director at Colonial Place. She has one daughter, Sydney, who was a Flower Girl in the 2008 Forest Festival. She attends Landmark Baptist Church and has also served as a Mighty Mite Basketball Coach. Chrissy is also a member of Rotary and The Chamber of Commerce. She has experience volunteering on the Band Field Show, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Princess Housing, and Princess Welcoming Committees. Mullenax will be coordinating this year the Website/Social Media Presence, Distinguished Guest Dinner/Queen’s Ball (Secondary), Plaques, and Sound/Light Production.
Michelle Pratt will serve her third year as an Assistant Director. Michelle is employed at Mountain Valley Bank as a Loan Processor. She and her husband, Seth, have three children, Curtis Conrad, Emily Conrad Timmons and husband Joel Timmons, and Jaden Pratt. Daughter Emily served as a Princess in 2007 and daughter Jaden served as a Flower Girl in 2012. They also have four host daughters, Lilly Marie Myhre Vaage of Norway, Natela Portshidze of France, Nora Gorosabel Aranceta of Spain, and Madlen Wehning of Germany. She has two Grandchildren, Liam and Harlow Timmons.
Michelle and family are members of the First United Methodist Church. Pratt has served on the Grand Feature Parade Committees, Minor Court Committee, Coronation Reception Committee and Distinguished Guest Dinner and Queen’s Ball Committees. This year, she will be coordinating the City Park Activities, Kids Day at the Festival, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and Country Music Show/Tailgate Party.
Todd Riggleman will serve as an Assistant Director for his eighth year. He is a Forestry Supervisor with Mon Power, a FirstEnergy Company. He and his wife, Robin, are parents of two sons, Garrett and Kyle. His sister, Kelly Gilbert, served as a Royal Jester in the 1981 Forest Festival and his son, Kyle, served as Train Bearer in the 2009 Forest Festival.
Riggleman attends Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church. He is a past Assistant Webelos Leader and enjoys coaching baseball and football. He has experience working with the Lumberjack Competition, Banners and Flags Committees, Photograph Exhibit, Wood Products and Pet Show Committees. He will coordinate this year the Grounds, Flags & Banners (Installation), Fireman’s Parade, and Vendors.
Jeff Skidmore will be serving his first year as a Mountain State Forest Festival Assistant Director. He is employed by the Randolph County Assessor’s Office as a Data Entry Clerk for the past 19 years and also employed 35 years by Elkins Raceway as the Competition Placement Director.
Skidmore has experience in serving on numerous Festival Committees including; Wood Chopping, Country Music Show, Gospel Show, Festival Souvenirs, Information Booth, ATV Races, WV Symphony, and Distinguished Guest and Queens Ball Committees. He has two nieces, Jackie Skidmore-Teter and Samantha Skidmore-Ball, who have served as princesses in the Forest Festival. Jackie served in the 2002 Forest Festival and Samantha served in the 2006 Forest Festival. For the 80th Forest Festival, Jeff will coordinate Flags & Banners (Development), M.S.F.F. 50 Motorcycle and ATV Race, Downtown Stage, and Band Field Show (Secondary).
Once again, in closing, the 80th edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival will take place Saturday, October 1, 2016-Sunday, October 9, 2016. For more information call 304-636-1824.
