WVFA at Mountain State Forest Festival

The Mountain State Forest Festival is one of the largest and oldest festivals in West Virginia, continuing to promote the beauty and splendor of our mountains and valleys in all their autumn glory and promoting prudent development, conservation and culture of our abundant natural resources for the future. And the West Virginia Forestry Association was in attendance and participated in festivities last week, from Wednesday through Saturday.

The festival affords us the opportunity to share with our community and state the important role West Virginia’s natural forest resources play in our economic development. Rich in tradition, the festival itself also plays a major role in our state economy and offers something for everyone to enjoy, such as headline concerts and music shows, lumberjack competition, forestry and wood exhibits, juried art show, photography exhibit, quilt show, arts and crafts, amusement rides, (3) parades, and the Royal Coronation of Queen Silvia.

This year, WVFA and the forest and natural resource-specific exhibits moved back to its former location at the Elkins YMCA, after an absence of more than a decade. With this move came much improved foot-traffic and opportunities to share our stories of and pride in our industry. We estimate a tenfold pickup in display attendance, which helped WVFA raise funds, through a rocking chair raffle for the Ted Harriman Forestry Camp of about $500.00!  WVFA displays included Tree Farm, PLT, Invasive Species, SFI and our WVFA exhibit. Randolph County and the City of Elkins opened their streets to accommodate 75,000+ visitors this year.  Likely the biggest—or near-biggest—fair/festival in the state.