Submitted photo Pierslyn Farley has been announced as the winner of the 2026 Woodly the Elf poster contest.

ELKINS – Mountain State Forest Festival officials have announced that a local elementary school student will be Woodly the Elf, the official mascot for the 88th autumn celebration.

Pierslyn Farley is a fourth-grade student at Third Ward Elementary, where she was announced as the winner of the 2026 Woodly the Elf poster contest during a school assembly in front of her peers.

Pierslyn is the daughter of Farrah and Cameron of Elkins.

MSFF Director General Nathaniel Bonnell unveiled Pierslyn’s creative work that captured this year’s Forest Festival theme, “Autumn in Color.”

Queen’s Department Director Megan Casto and the Queen’s Department assistants were also present for the ceremony.

Pierslyn was a runner-up in the poster contest in both 2024 and 2025.

As this year’s 2026 Woodly the Elf poster contest winner, she will become a member of the Royal Minor Court of Queen Silvia LXXXVIII, and will also make appearances at the Buckwheat Festival and Strawberry Festival.

More than 30 posters were submitted to compete in this year’s poster contest, officials said. The Woodly the Elf contest is open to Randolph County students in second, third or fourth grades – including home school, private or public schools. Woodly the Elf is sponsored by Citizens Bank of WV.

The 88th edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival will be celebrated Sept. 26 through Oct. 4. More information is available by visiting festival social media, www.forestfestival.com, or calling the festival office at 304-636-1824.