85th Mountain State Forest Festival Queen’s Department announced
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ELKINS -- Mountain State Forest Festival Director General Jon Morgan announces the appointment of the Queen's Department for the 85th edition of the Festival. The theme for this year, taking place Saturday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 8, is "Endlessly Wild and Wonderful."
Megan Casto will be serving her first year as the Director of the Queen's Department. She will lead the planning, coordinating, and delivering of all activities for the Royal Court of the 85th MSFF. Last year, Casto served as an Assistant for the Queen's Department. She and her family have been actively involved with the MSFF for many years. Casto has volunteered on many committees, including Princess Orientation; Minor Court; Princess Ambassador; Window Decorating; and Pet Show. She was a Flower Girl in the 1995 MSFF and was a Maid of Honor in the 2008 MSFF.
Her husband, Dusty, was a Trumpeteer for the MSFF from 1998-2000. Casto and her husband have two daughters, Callie and Everly. Callie served as a Scepter Bearer in the 2019 MSFF. Casto is employed as an accountant at Woodford Oil Company.
Lisa Shaffer will also be returning in her sixth year as a Queen's Department Assistant. She and her husband Ben have also been active volunteers with the MSFF for many years. Shaffer has been involved with the Distinguished Guest Dinner and Queen's Ball Committees; Band Field Show; Window Decorating; Lumberjack; and Horseshoe Tournament.
Her husband, Ben, served as Director General of the 78th MSFF. Her niece, Haleigh Riggleman, was a Flower Girl in the 2013 MSFF and Princess in 2022, and niece, Sarah Riggleman, served as a Maid of Honor in the 84th edition of the festival. Shaffer is employed by the Randolph County Housing Authority.
Hannah Shiflett will serve her first year as a Queen's Department Assistant. Last year, Shiflett volunteered on the Minor Court Committee and was a Princess Ambassador. She was a Maid of Honor in the 82nd MSFF and was a Flower Girl in the 72nd MSFF.
Hannah's mother, Susie Shiflett, was a Princess in 1987. Her mother volunteered on various committees for the MSFF, starting out as Hairdresser to Queen Silvia and the Minor Court; served on the Minor Court Committee; and finished out as a Queen's Department Assistant, so Hannah is following right in her mother's footsteps.
Shiflett is currently employed as a teacher at Midland Elementary School. Additionally, she is employed at the Gandy Dancer Theatre and Conference Center, where she is in her 10th season, and is the lead dancer and back-up vocalist.
Maid Silvia LXXXV will be crowned as Queen of the 85th edition of the MSFF during the Royal Coronation at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, at the Citizen's Bank of WV Outdoor Amphitheatre located on the campus of Davis & Elkins College. For more information, please call the office at 304-636-1824 or visit the MSFF's website at www.forestfestival.com.