Submitted photo The 88th Mountain State Forest Festival's Queen's Department includes, from left, Ashley Godwin, Director Megan Casto and Melissa Walters.

ELKINS – Mountain State Forest Festival Director General Nathaniel Bonnell has announced the appointment of the Queen’s Department for the 88th edition of the festival.

The theme for this year’s festival, taking place Saturday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Oct. 4, is “Autumn in Color.”

Megan Casto will be returning to serve her fourth year as the Director of the Queen’s Department, having previously served as a Queen’s Department Assistant in 2022. She will lead the planning, coordination, and delivering of all activities for the Royal Court of the 88th MSFF.

Megan has volunteered on several Festival committees, including Princess Orientation, Princess Ambassadors, Minor Court Committee, Pet Show, and Window Decorating. She was a Flower Girl in the 1995 MSFF and was a Maid of Honor in the 2008 MSFF.

Megan has two daughters, Callie and Everly. Callie served as a Scepter Bearer in the 2019 MSFF and a Jester in the 2025 MSFF. Megan is employed as an accountant at Woodford Oil Company.

Ashley Godwin will serve her first year as a Queen’s Department Assistant. She served as an Assistant Director for the 87th MSFF, leading the Distinguished Guest Dinner and Queen’s Ball.

Ashley has been actively volunteering with the festival since 2016, serving as the chair for the Minor Court Committee. Her family holds special connection to festival, as her daughter Kaylee served as Flower Girl in 2018.

Ashley is a certified professional coder with Vandalia Health. Beyond her professional and festival commitments, she is an active member of Centerbranch Church in Elkins. Ashley finds great joy in supporting her two children Grayson and Kaylee as they participate in baseball and soccer, and spending time with her fiancé Jeremy.

Melissa Walters will serve her first year as a Queen’s Department Assistant. She has volunteered with the MSFF for many years on numerous committees, including serving as Chairman of the Princess Hospitality Committee and the Coffee for the Court Committee. She has also been a member of the velvet cutting committee and was a Jester coach.

Melissa and husband Brad reside in Dailey with their two daughters, Gwynneth and Darrah. Melissa served as a Princess in the 65th MSFF, and Gwynneth served as a Flower Girl in the 83rd MSFF and Jester in the 86th MSFF. Walters is employed as the principal of Coalton Elementary School.

Maid Silvia LXXXVIII will be crowned as Queen of the 88th edition of the MSFF during the Royal Coronation at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Citizens Bank of WV Outdoor Amphitheatre on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

More information is available by visiting festival social media, www.forestfestival.com, or calling the festival office at 304-636-1824.