Scott Goddard

Greetings, I hope this message finds you well.  It is indeed an honor and a pleasure to address you as the Director General of the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival.  To each and every Mountain State Forest Festival volunteer and sponsor over the years, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.  You are the life blood of the region, the City of Elkins, and the Mountain State Forest Festival.  I’m eager to meet you personally to thank you for all the good things you have made possible.

The theme for the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival is simply Celebrate!  I celebrate the friendships and memories made through the Mountain State Forest Festival: Assisting with the Distinguished Guest Dinner, being totally exhausted after a full day of load-in, set up, and tear down of the Country Music Show, securing events for the City Park, and watching my daughter serve as Crown Bearer during the 77th Mountain State Festival are all memories that stand out vividly.

While impossible to capture all of my friendships and memories since the early 1990s, the Mountain State Forest Festival has been a key part of my life.  That said, as I step into my role, the game plan is to celebrate the rich history of the Mountain State Forest Festival while, at the same time, breathing in energy and excitement to move it forward.  My hope for every Mountain State Forest Festival event is to touch the heart and to transport those in attendance to a “different place” for that short period of time.  To clarify, the challenges facing the world, the nation, our community and personally in our day to day lives are OVERWHELMING.  If we can go to a better place, a happier place, together in our mind’s eye, the 80th Mountain State Forest Festival will be a success.

In closing, to the Mountain State Forest Festival Association Board of Directors (under the leadership of President Harris), Maid Silvia Kara D’Ann Alvarez and the Alvarez Family, The Royal Court and their families, Executive Director George, Deputy Director Shoemaker, Assistant Directors, Local & State Elected Officials, Sponsors, Volunteers, my Family, and the D&E Family — THANK YOU.  I can never adequately thank you for your great personal as well as professional loyalty and friendship.  I treasure each of you, and will hold you in my heart forever.

The 80th Mountain State Forest Festival is nearly here!  The countdown is on, it is time to Celebrate!

With warmest wishes,

Scott D. Goddard,

80th Mountain State Forest Festival

Director General