The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Dobby, the Sphinx, greets the judges during the Cutest Cat category section of the Mountain State Forest Festival Pet Show this week.

ELKINS — More than 40 furry friends of all shapes and sizes were on display at the annual Mountain State Forest Festival Pet Show and Parade of Pets.

Attended by Maid Silvia LXXXVII Sterling Kump, Maids of Honor Ellyse Goddard and Macie Romero, members of the minor court and the public, the annual competition saw 42 pets participate in 12 categories this year.

“We quadrupled the participants this year from last,” the MSFF’s Katie Preusch told The Inter-Mountain.

The show, which was held at the Elkins High School gymnasium, was emceed by John Ellis and Melissa Bishop of 94.7 WELK. Judging the categories was Miss Randolph County Fair 2025 Camrie Goshert, Miss Teen Randolph County Fair 2025 Gwynneth Walters, Miss Teen Elkins, West Virginia 2025 Julian Harlan and 2025 West Virginia Strawberry Festival Queen Kourtney Jones.

The winners were announced at the end of the night:

Best Rescue: Ruby from the Kanawha County Humane Society, presented by Emily Demotto.

Best Pure Breed: Nova, “the Pomeranian Powerhouse,” presented by Smantha Underwood.

“Fit Check,” also known as Best Costume: Levi, presented by Ella Elbon.

Prettiest Eyes: Toby, presented by Grayson Howell.

Most Obedient: Rozzin “The Rodeo Dog,” presented by Kathy Dakan.

Best Trick: Ozzy “The Balloon Bouncer,” presented by Cody Vandevender.

Most Unusual Pet: Bubbles, presented by Temperance Howell.

Pet-Owner Look-A-Like: Jagger, presented by Hayleigh Riggleman.

Golden Gang (10+ years old): Bennie, “The Snack Security and Sunshine Supervisor,” presented by Rory Kerns.

Prettiest Pup: Teddy, presented by Gauge Wiseman.

Cutest Cat: Jett, presented by Kasen Miller.

Most Fitting Name: Bob “The Bobtail Kitten,” presented by Tracey Cooper.

Kump, Spencer, Romero and MSFF Director General Lisa Shaffer also presented awards to their overall favorites from the Pet Show.

Romero gave her Maid of Honor’s Choice award to Teddy, presented by Wiseman, and Goddard awarded her Maid of Honor’s Choice to Tucker, an Australian sheppard who participated in the Prettiest Pup category.

Kump gave her Maid Sylvia’s Choice award to Levi, presented by Elbon, for their “beautiful Festival-themed costume.”

Shaffer gave the Director General’s Choice award to Sequel, a golden retriever that had also been in the Prettiest Pet category.

Wiseman, who is 5 years old, said he was excited and felt “good” about winning both Prettiest Pup and Romero’s Maid of Honor’s Choice award with Teddy, who is an 8-week-old miniature pomeranian.

“We just got him three weeks ago, and whenever we saw the category (Prettiest Pet), we just thought he would match, so we tried it,” Serena Wiseman, who presented Teddy alongside Gauge, told The Inter-Mountain.

“It’s really exciting (to win)! I didn’t expect it. There were a lot of cute pets.”

The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie
A Mountain State Forest Festival Pet Show contestant puts on an award-winning smile for the camera this week.