Benjamin Gilmore

ELKINS — The small sprite responsible for ensuring the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival has splashes of color in every tree is Woodly the Elf. This year, Benjamin Gilmore will serve to make sure the MSFF is a colorful one.

Each year, the Mountain State Forest Festival and Citizens Bank of West Virginia select a Randolph County third- or fourth-grader, from public, private or home-schooled students, to serve as Woodly the Elf through a poster contest. This is the 39th year Woodly has been represented in the MSFF. Benjamin said he was excited when he found out he would be the 2016 MSFF Woodly the Elf.

“I am really excited to be Woodly and excited to see my costume,” Benjamin said. “I wanted to be Woodly because I thought it would be fun to have my own float in the parades.”

Benjamin said his poster had trees, Queen Silvia, the Royal Jesters, rides from the carnival and other scenes to spell out the word ‘celebrate,’ which is the theme of the 2016 Mountain State Forest Festival.

“My favorite Forest Festival event is all of them,” he said. “I am most looking forward to riding through all of the parades and visiting all of the schools.”

In his spare time, Benjamin said he likes to ride his bicycle and said, next year, he wants to play midget football.

Benjamin is the son of Kelly and Ryan Putzulu and Beau Dittmar. His grandparents are John and Elaine Gilmore, Kevin Wiseman, Mary Jo Grabe and Bo Dittmar.

Mountain State Forest Festival Director General Scott Goddard likes to use Pablo Picasso’s famous quote “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

Goddard said that quote should cause us to reflect on what role we play as teachers and parents in the creative potential of children.

“Benjamin’s poster truly pulled out his creative potential and it incorporated the theme of the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival – Celebrate!” Goddard said. “This shows what the Forest Festival means to him. I also have to say the poster lights up! Special thanks to Citizens Bank of West Virginia for providing all of the magical moments that come with Woodly the Elf.”

Four runners-up were selected in the Woodly the Elf Poster Contest, and they will be invited to ride on the Woodly the Elf float in the MSFF Grand Feature Parade.

The 80th Mountain State Forest Festival kicks off Saturday. For more information visit www.forestfestival.com online or via email at msff@forestfestival.com.