Smith has a history with the MSFF, as she’s been a crown bearer, a maid of honor, and was in the Elkins High School marching band. Her mother also organized the craft show at Davis & Elkins College in the 1970s.

“By the time I became a maid of honor in the festival, there was such an appreciation for what it takes to put this whole festival together,” Smith said. “I was much more aware of the scope of the Forest Festival, which I think has grown since I’ve been there.”

After moving to California, she worked with Dave Weekley on his radio show, co-hosted Investors Business Daily’s Investing Show, and written her own book, “How To Make Money in Stocks Success Stories.”

“I go around the country and I help teach people about the stock market,” Smith said.

Submitted photo Amy Shepler Smith served as a Maid of Honor in the 1979 Mountain State Forest Festival.

“Investors Business Daily started off as a newspaper. It started off to help the individual investor learn more about how the stock market really works,” Smith said. She has worked with IBD for nearly a decade.

Smith hopes to inspire with her speech at the Distinguished Guest Dinner.

“One of the challenges the festival gave me is something to help inspire the princesses, the young women in particular who will be in attendance, and of course the queen, since they’re just starting their careers,” she said.

Smith has been featured by CNN, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Money Matters Boston, WBBM Chicago, Dallas Investor’s Forum, Metro News Hotline and AM 870 Your Money Your Wealth.

When asked what was her favorite part of the festival while growing up, she responded, “You can’t beat the beauty of Davis & Elkins College and the princesses in all of those colors of the dresses coming down the hill and then onto the stage. It’s just magnificent in how beautiful it is.”

The Distinguished Guest Dinner will be at 6 p.m. at the Phil Gainer Community Center in Elkins.