The Inter-Mountain photo by Anthony Gaynor West Virginia Governor Jim Justice crowns Queen Silvia LXXV Anna Marie Ruf during a coronation ceremony Friday on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

ELKINS — For the first time in years, the governor of West Virginia crowned the Mountain State Forest Festival’s Queen Silvia Friday.

Gov. Jim Justice, a surprise participant in Friday’s coronation ceremony, placed the crown on the head of Queen Silvia LXXXV Anna Marie Ruf at the Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheatre on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

“It is absolutely my honor beyond belief to be here with you,” Justice said as he crowned Ruf before a crowd of hundreds during the coronation ceremony. “It is my pleasure to place upon your head this symbol of royalty.”

Royal trumpeteers Gracelyn Kay Gooding, Preston James Herron, Aidan Matthew Lowther, Samuel “Aaron” Mabry and Levi Alan Workman provided fanfare for the queen and her court at the start of the ceremony.

Following the royal trumpeteers down Coronation Hill was the 2023 Woodly the Elf, Braelyn Marie Haddix, the MSFF mascot and the fabled painter of the forest.

Representing the many colors of the forest in their gowns were 40 royal princesses from across the Mountain State.

Princesses included Heidi Marcela Arevalo, Kamryn Noelle Armstrong, Lindsey Marie Bell, Samantha Joann Bykofsky, Melody Rose Calkins, Allison Brooke Canales, Sydney Jayne Cooper, Hannah Grace Cutright, Carli Grace Cvechko, Hannah Grace Davis, Abbie Leighanne Eakle, Sophia Mae Gillispie, Kaylee Dawn Halterman, Evie Grace Harper, Kennedy Laine Hart, Emma Louise Hicks, Ruby Jane Jackson, Leithean “Thea” Ann Kerns, Cassie Nicole Monk, Kelseigh Jayde Monk, Caitlynn Elizabeth Paige Patterson, Kenzie Sage Phillips, Lydia Renee Phillips, Emma Marie Poling, Sophia Anne Putnam, Caitlyn Elizabeth Rennix, Celia Marie Ricottilli, Kaitlyn Louise Riggleman, Hope Ann Rogers, McKenzie Dawn Smith, Shelby Leian Smith, Ashlynn Renea Sparks, Victoria Pedigo Sturm, Iris Alanna Tenney, Madeline Rae Walls, Paityn Marie Ware, Brittany Leigh White, Bailey Mya Wildman and Macy C. Wiseman.

Following the princesses’ descent of Coronation Hill were flower girls Claire Ann Kniffen, Caroline Marie Simon, Laikin Felicity Tanner and Kaitlin “Kate” Terry.

Train Bearers Maddox Cruze Crawford and Harper Alexander Brown served Queen Silvia LXXXV by holding the flowing train of her majestic gown as she descended Coronation Hill.

Ruf was also accompanied by her two Maids of Honor, Miriam Christine Fath and Sophia Ann Shoemaker.

Maid of Honor Fath is the daughter of Rick and Tracy Fath of Elkins.

Maid of Honor Shoemaker is the daughter of of Chad and Christie Shoemaker of Elkins.

Crown Bearer Brayton Mark Washington assisted Justice in presenting Ruf with her crown. Scepter Bearer Kane Matthew Gainer carried the symbol of power down the hill to the coronation stage.

Entertaining guests of the Mountain State Forest Festival during the coronation were royal jesters Anna Lee Elbon, Aubrie Paige Evans, Peytan Grace Petrice and Addalynn Mckenzey Sotosky.

The royal scouts for the coronation were Christina Noelle Knapp, Isabella Grace Lowther, Hunter Wade Shaffer and Sean “Rohan” Sullivan.

Also present for coronation as the “Court Noblemen” were State Senator Robert Karnes, State Senator Bill Hamilton, Delegate Ty Nestor, Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, W.Va. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt, Harry Evans of the West Virginia Division of Forestry, West Virginia Commissioner of Culture and History Randall Reid-Smith and Davis & Elkins College President Chris Wood.

Ruf is the daughter of Eric and Jana Ruf of Belington.  She is the granddaughter of the late Robert and Joan Donaldson of Belington and the late Henry “Bud” and Phyllis Ruf of Parkersburg.

Ruf is a 2019 graduate of Philip Barbour High School, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, was Class President for four years, Key Club President, National Honor Society Secretary, Student Council Representative, a twirler and saxophonist for the Philip Barbour Band, 2019 Prom Queen and 2018 Homecoming Queen. 

Ruf is also a 2023 graduate of Davis & Elkins College, with a degree in Secondary Math Education and is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Honor’s Program. She was the 2019 recipient of a full four-year tuition Leadership Scholarship, a member of the Dean’s List, Concert Choir, Student Education Association, Secretary of the Faith & Fellowship Club, Vice-President of Kappa Delta Pi, and a recipient of the 2021 Academic Achievement Award of the Department of Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics.

She is the first Queen Silvia from Barbour County.