Photos by Linda Howell-Skidmore Members of the Board of Directors for the 88th Mountain State Forest Festival enjoy an afternoon at Graceland Inn on the campus of Davis & Elkins College with the Royal Court and their families. From left are, seated, Peggy Phillips, Lydia Jones, Kathy Leombruno, Maid Silvia Emma Grace Snyder, Susie Kump and Executive Director Heidi Bray; standing, Chad Shoemaker, Bob Wamsley, Mike Karlen, William “Bill” Hartman, Frank Santmyer, Hugh Hitchcock, Ray LaMora, Board President Scott Harris, Robbie Morris, Ben Shaffer and Cliff Marstiller.

Emma Grace Snyder said it’s still hard for her to believe that she was selected to reign over the 88th Mountain State Forest Festival as Maid Silvia. The Hambleton resident, along with her Maids of Honor Kendall Rayann Corley and Grace Elizabeth Parsons, were honored at a reception on June 7 at Graceland Inn on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

The traditional event, attended by Forest Festival officials, family and guests, serves as Maid Silvia’s first official visit to Elkins leading into the flurry of preparations for the autumn celebration. Director General Nathaniel Bonnell chose “Autumn in Color” as the theme of this year’s festivities.

“It truly feels like a dream come true,” Snyder said. “I cannot even put into words how excited I am to be named Maid Silvia and to be crowned Queen Silvia.”

The daughter of James and Kim Snyder of Hambleton, she is also the granddaughter of Alta Snyder and the late Kenneth Snyder of Hambleton, Mary Mauldin and the late Lieutenant Colonel Mack Mauldin of Hendricks and David and Wilda Shrout of Thomas. She has one brother, Adam Lambruno.

Snyder, 21, graduated with honors from West Virginia University in May with a degree in anthropology and a minor in religious studies. She was named Outstanding Senior in Anthropology, served as a researcher and lab manager in the ceramics lab, and presented research at undergraduate symposia, winning her category in the fall of 2025. Emma also presented at a professional conference in San Francisco, California, studied abroad in Italy to gain hands on experience and served as secretary of the Anthropology Club.

Assistant Directors of the 88th Mountain State Forest Festival gather on the veranda at Graceland Inn with Maid Silvia. From left are, seated, Chrissy Kittle, Jennifer Morgan, Queen’s Department Director Megan Casto, Maid Silvia Emma Grace Snyder, Director General Nathaniel Bonnell, Deputy Director Whitney Morris and Tracy Gooden; standing, Amanda Carter, Tamara Bailey, Brian Romero, Tony Bates, Todd Riggleman, Zach Elbon and Jeff Skidmore.

This fall she will return to WVU to pursue a master’s degree in public history with plans to later attend law school.

A 2023 graduate of Tucker County High School, Snyder ranked in the top 10 in her class, was a member of National Honor Society and a class officer.

Attending the Forest Festival has always been a tradition for the Snyder family who would spend afternoons and evenings taking in the array of events. In 2024, Snyder served as princess in the Royal Court.

“If you had asked little Emma what she wanted to be when she grew up, she probably would have said a Disney princess,” Snyder said. “Never in a million years did I imagine that one day I would have the honor of wearing a crown of my own. I will do my very best to serve and represent the Mountain State Forest Festival in the most positive way possible.”

Maid of Honor Corley is the daughter of Keith and Beth Corley of Elkins. She is the granddaughter of Jack and Bonnie Batdorf of Elkins and the late John Kenneth and Jean Corley of Elkins. She has one sister, Alexa Corley Eva.

Maid Silvia Emma Grace Snyder, center, is greeted by Mountain State Forest Festival Board of Directors President Scott Harris and his wife, Christina Harris.

“The Forest Festival has always been a meaningful tradition for both my family and me,” Corley said. “To me, it represents much more than a celebration of a week of festivities. It embodies tradition, community and pride. It is a time when people come together to honor the natural beauty of West Virginia and celebrate the place so many proudly call home.”

Corley served as a Jester in the 83rd Mountain State Forest Festival. Her father, Keith, served as an Assistant Director for three years and her mother, Beth, served as a Flower Girl in the 40th MSFF and a Princess in the 53rd MSFF. Her great aunt, Molly Batdorf White, served as a Maid of Honor in the 23rd MSFF.

“The Festival serves as a reminder of the values that connect us: hard work, respect for nature and the importance of family and community,” Corley said. “It brings generations together and creates memories that last a lifetime. It encourages us to appreciate the resources around us and to take pride in the traditions that have been passed down through the years.”

A 2025 graduate of Highland Adventist School and Randolph Technical Center, Corley was an honor roll student, member of the National Technical Honor Society and recipient of the Governor’s Workforce Credential. This fall, she will be a freshman at Pierpont Community and Technical College where she will study in the paramedic program with future plans of obtaining a Nationally Certified Paramedic Certificate.

Corley works full-time at Upshur County Emergency Squad as an EMT-B, and part-time with Anmoore Fire and EMS as an EMT-B and Mountain State Cheer Academy as a tumbling instructor. She is also a certified firefighter and was a junior firefighter for Beverly Volunteer Fire Department.

Members of the Queen’s Department and Maid Silvia begin their journey toward the 88th Mountain State Forest Festival. From left are, Assistants Melissa Walters and Ashley Godwin, Maid Silvia Emma Grace Snyder and Queen’s Department Director Megan Casto.

Maid of Honor Parsons is the daughter of John and Amy Parsons of Elkins. She is the granddaughter of James and Karen Bialek of Elkins and Jo Ellen and the late James F. Parsons of Elkins and William Jack Fuhrman and Barbara Fuhrman of Elkins.

Her special memory of the Forest Festival is when she was appointed by former Director General Scott Harris to serve as crown bearer in the 75th edition.

“At age 5, everyone was nervous about me going down the hill,” Parsons said. “I had to be bribed. But once I started, it was full speed ahead. I was known as ‘the runner’ that year. I received a guinea pig, so it all worked out in the end.”

Her family has a long history of participating in and volunteering with the Festival. Her mother served as a Princess in 1992, volunteered for many years including designing the coronation pillow from 1993-2023, was an assistant in the Queen’s Department from 2004-2006 and an Assistant Director from 2010-2012. Her grandmother, Karen Bialek, started volunteering in 1976 and was an Assistant Director from 1994-2000 before becoming Director General in 2001 and then serving as Board President and a Board Member until 2020. Her uncle, JB Bialek, served as a Train Bearer in 1990, and her aunt, Ashley Bialek-Flanagan, served as a Maid of Honor in 2004.

A 2025 graduate of Elkins High School, Parsons was a four-year completer in culinary school at Randolph County Technical Center. She studied at the Old Brick, “The New School,” and was a cast member of the murder mysteries at the Gandy Dancer. She attends Mount Carmel Baptist Church and is a member of their youth group.

The design of the gowns worn by Maid Silvia and her court is a highly guarded secret until the entourage descends “Coronation Hill” on the campus of Davis & Elkins College. The creator of the costuming, Connie Linger, second from left, meets with Maid of Honor Grace Parsons, left, Maid Silvia Emma Grace Snyder, second from right, and Maid of Honor Kendall Corley.

This fall, Parsons will be a licensed kennel operator and groomer. She currently works at Rising Sun Kennel LLC. She is striving to establish her own kennel and grooming facility and currently cares for animals while their owners are away.

The 88th edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival will take place Sept. 26 to Oct. 4. Corley and Parsons will accompany Snyder during her Royal Coronation on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Citizens 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.

Sharing their excitement for the upcoming 88th Mountain State Forest Festival are Maid Silvia Emma Grace Snyder, seated right, her grandmother Mary Mauldin, seated left, and her parents, Kim and James Snyder.

Maid of Honor Grace Parsons, second from right, is congratulated by her family, from left grandparents Jim and Karen Bialek, mother Amy Parsons and father John Parsons, right.

Maid of Honor Kendall Corley, second from left, is joined by her family, father Keith Corley, left, grandmother Bonnie Batdorf, second from right, and her mother Beth Corley.