The Inter-Mountain photo by Anthony Gaynor West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner helps Queen Silvia LXXXVII Sterling Anne Kump to her feet after she is crowned during Friday afternoon’s coronation ceremony on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

ELKINS — The Mountain State Forest Festival’s 87th Queen Silvia was crowned Friday afternoon during a coronation ceremony under sunny skies.

West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner crowned Queen Silvia LXXXVII Sterling Anne Kump at the Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheatre on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

Royal trumpeteers Aidan Matthew Lowther, Hunter Wade Shaffer, Madeline Grace Wamsley and Kyle Liam Warner as Royal Trumpeteers provided fanfare for the queen and her court at the start of the ceremony.

Following the royal trumpeteers down Coronation Hill was the 2025 Woodly the Elf, Makenna Sfameni, 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 Noelle Morgan Anderson, Gianna Grace Backus, Ava Marjory Barger, Karah Nicole Bennett, Aliyah Danielle Biller, Hailey Michaela Bonnett, Addyson Grace Cogar, Erin Laine Collins, Katelyn Grace Cooper, Lauren Taylor Dodds, Haylie Ann Doyle, Alexis Danielle Findley, London Cambre Frame, Jaida Brooke George, Isabelle Gray Hauser, Kinley Shea Hayhurst, Lilly Jean Heater, Macy Marie Helmick, Chloe Annalyse Helzer, Mallory Maloy Hobbs, Anna Elise Hulver, Lily Grace Lasky, Jasmine Marie Mallow, Addison Michelle Caroleine McDonald, Olivia Nicole Moudry, Lydia Grace Mouse, Christa Brooke Myers, Ella Grace Ours, Jacquelynn Danyelle Papez, Courtney Elizabeth Pieta, Karlie Kennedy Priddy, Chloe Vivian Pudder, Quinn Alexis Raffo, Daniela Christine Sanchez-Gutierrez, Rylan Nicole Sharp, Taylor Renee Spratt, Sophie Jane Stuart, Ravyn Morganne Weirich, Haleigh Ann Wilfong and Amber Rose McCormick Williams.

Following the princesses’ descent of Coronation Hill were flower girls Adalynn Grace Brown, Claire Marie Channell, Felicity Rose LaMora and Addyson Kinsley Pyles.

Train Bearers Parker Alexander Halle and Nico Timothy Severino served Queen Silvia LXXXVII by holding the flowing train of her majestic gown as she descended Coronation Hill.

Kump was also accompanied by her two Maids of Honor, Macie Romero and Ellyse Goddard.

Maid of Honor Romero is the daughter of Brian and Beverly Romero of Elkins.

Maid of Honor Goddard is the daughter of Scott Goddard and Amy Goddard of Elkins.

Crown Bearer Hadley Rose Riggleman assisted Warner in presenting Kump with her crown. Scepter Bearer Norah Carolyn Shaffer 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 Karigan Lorelle Carr, Callie James Casto, Avery Grace Fox and Emery Ann Purdy.

The royal scouts for the coronation were Tinley Marie Morris, Madison Claire Shifflett, Grant Simon Harper and Nicholas Robert Rizzio.

Also present for coronation as the”Court Noblemen” were State Senator Robbie Morris, State Senator Bill Hamilton, Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez, Delegate Jonathan Kyle, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, W.Va. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt and Davis & Elkins College President Chris Wood.

Kump, 19, is the daughter of Will and Amy Kump of Moorefield. She is the granddaughter of Kerr and Susie Kump of Elkins and Dennis and Tonie Peterson of Marshfield, Wisconsin. She is the great-great-granddaughter of former Governor Herman Guy Kump, 19th Governor of West Virginia, 1933 to 1937. She is also the great-granddaughter of Cyrus S. Kump, former Director General of the Mountain State Forest Festival in 1933, 1950, and 1951, and one of three organizers of the West Virginia Highlanders. Sterling has two brothers, Cyrus and Reid, and one sister, Caroline.

The future Queen Silvia is a 2023 graduate of Moorefield High School. She is a junior at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, Her future plans are to attend graduate school and pursue a career as a healthcare professional. She is the first Maid Silvia to represent Hardy County and the town of Moorefield.

Warner, who crowned Kump Friday afternoon, told The Inter-Mountain that, while he was looking forward to the crowning ceremony, he was also “anxious” as this would be his first year taking part in “all the regalia.”

“We’re glad that we’re here to take the honor,” Warner told The Inter-Mountain on Thursday. “I’m taking it very seriously. I’ve got a big booklet to read tonight so I can know everything I need to know.”

Warner said he knew that Kump was the great-great-granddaughter of former Gov. Herman Kump, and that she “used to like to go find the perfect funnel cake.” Warner joked that his four grandchildren will test out all the funnel cake available at the Festival and let him know “which one to go to.”

“If we’re here, we’re going to do it all the way,” Warner said. “We’re here on Saturday for the (Grand Feature) parade. You just make sure the weather holds out.”

The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie
Maids of Honor Macie Romero and Ellyse Goddard wave to the crowd during the coronation ceremony Friday.