67th Strawberry Festival Under Way In Buckhannon

By Becky Wagoner, Staff Writer
The king and queen of the 2008 West Virginia Strawberry Festival were crowned Wednesday evening in a traditional coronation ceremony in Wesleyan Chapel on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon.

Festival Queen Lindsay Weaver, 20, of Buckhannon, received her crown from Col. Robert Kincaid from the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office for West Virginia. Heather Hostutler, the 2007 queen presented Weaver with the mantel of office and her royal scepter was presented by WVSF President Debra Hupp. The key to the city of Buckhannon was presented by Mayor Jim Knorr and Upshur County Commissioner Donnie Tenney delivered the oath of office.

Weaver, the daughter of Susie Miller and Andy Weaver, is a junior at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She plans to earn a bachelors degree in accounting and sociology and later a masters degree in social justice and research.

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass crowned Upshur County native Matthew Tolliver as the festival king.

Tolliver began growing strawberries in 2004 while working as a Bonner Scholar with West Virginia University Extension Service Agent Gary Rapking. In order to grow his strawberries, Tolliver implemented a raised-bed system with black plastic to help with weed reduction. Last year, he experimented with an underground heating apparatus as well.

The blessing and presentation of the berries, presented to Weaver, was conducted by The Rev. Ed Lowther, pastor of the South Buckhannon Mission Church.

The highlight of today’s festival events is the Junior Royalty Parade scheduled to step off at 6:30 p.m. The parade showcases various youth groups from across the state who will be competing for trophies and awards in several categories.

At 6 p.m, the WVSF will present a performance by West Virginia’s “Bard of Education,” Mick Souter in his one-man show, “Celebrate West Virginia” on the courthouse plaza. Souter, the state’s leading educational performing artist, will perform a variety of songs and stories that celebrate the people, the history, and the culture of West Virginia. Souter is an energetic multi-instrumentalist who accompanies himself on banjo, guitar, harmonica, auto harp, dulcimer, fiddle, recorder and piano as he encourages the audience to sing-a-long on a variety of songs

Art lovers may visit the Stockert Youth Center in Buckhannon for the Juried Art Show from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday and from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, while flower enthusiasts may take in the Fred Brooks Garden Club flower show from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday in Jenkins Hall, located on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon.

WVSF officials have also announced the winners of the Fred Brooks Garden Club Strawberry Yard of the Month. Homes within the city limits of Buckhannon were divided into five districts and judged by members of the garden club. The following yards were selected as 2008 winners:

District 1: Dale and Karen Woody, 111 Lincoln Way

District 2: The Rogers Family, 63 Smithfield St.

District 3: The Painter’s, 15 College Ave.

District 4: Mark and Marge Luther, 1 Gilbert St.

District 5: Ronald Criss, 19 Morton Ave.

Winners of the annual golf tournament held May 10 were also released by festival officials. Winning teams included:

First place, with a score of 56: John Moss, James Huber, Kenney Tenney and Jimmy Dean

Second place, with a score of 59: Brent Hyre, Marc Dib, Joe Dean and Chester Cutright

Third place, with a score of 63: Beryl McKisic, Francis Posey, John Dean and Clyde Lantz

Skill prizes awarded included: Closest to the Pin, Hole #5, Mike Dipasquale; Straightest Drive, Hole #13, Clyde Lantz; and Longest Putt, Hole #17, Chet Cutright.

None of the participants was able to capture the $20,000 prize for a Hole in One, sponsored by Wendy’s.

Visitors to downtown Buckhannon are encouraged to view the WVSF windows along Main Street. Winners of the competition include:

First place: Tea with the Queen, by Linda DaSilva, at A New Creation Book Store

Second place: Strawberry Stitches, by Linda Childers, at A New Creation Book Store

Third place: Upshur County Head Start by Chapman Technical

President’s Choice: A Life in Aviation, by Mike Kellar, at Hunter and Associates Law Office

King’s Choice and Best of Show: Artwork, Academy’s first and second grade students, at Ameriprise

Queen’s Choice: Senior Center Artwork at Hartman’s Trophy Shop

Teen Choice: CEOS at nTelos