2020 Mason County Forest Festival-- Canceled until 2021

The plans were made... the court was selected. The carnival booked & sponsors were signing up. Then the whole country shut down. The Forest Festival committee attempted to hang on by rescheduling the event to August from May. But even that quickly became an uncertainty. With the cancellation of the 76th annual event that means so much to the local community – we wanted to take the time to mark it with a few pages. Thank you to all the volunteers.

To help combat the destructive wildfires in the region — while also promoting the importance of forests to the local economy — Mason County hosted their first forest festival in the spring of 1945. The initial festival featured a parade, a beauty pageant (now the royalty court), a Paul Bunyan impersonator, and various other events and activities. The idea proved even more successful than imagined.

It is no surprise that the local community was pretty excited about the event, and still support it today with Mason County's heritage being long tied to the timber industry.

In 1853, Michael T. Simmons built the first sawmill in Mason County on Mill Creek just south of present-day Shelton. Around this same time, David Shelton staked a settlement claim on a nearby inlet off Puget Sound. Sol G. Simpson came to the area and founded the Simpson Logging Company in the 1890s. The Simpson Company would eventually grow and expand throughout the country, but Shelton served as an important center of operations for much of the following century.

The first Mason County Forest Festival honored the industry by showcasing the value of timber and the importance of preventing forest fires. The event continued to gain popularity each year. People from all over Washington traveled to Shelton to see, and in the words of an ad for the 12th Annual Forest Festival, “the dramatic Forest Pageant, the thrilling parade and the exciting contests in which loggers demonstrate their skills at falling, bucking, tree topping and truck driving."

The idea of a forest festival quickly spread across the country along with the Keep Green program. “You have in Shelton, in my opinion, the best all-around forest festival in the United States,” read a quote from a mid-1950s article. “It has been the inspiration of many forest communities throughout the U.S."

Coronation was held on February 29, 2020 at Shelton High School.

Photo: Cooper Studios

Although the pageant is no longer and at times the "Keep Washington Green" message gets lost in the excitement of carnival rides, fireworks and cotton candy – this event is still very much an integral part of Shelton's heritage. The current festival features a car show, carnival, live music, logging show, vendors and the much anticipated Paul Bunyan Grand Parade down Railroad Street in which the annual court presides over.

ROYAL COURT

Queen of the Forest

Photo: Cooper Studios

The 2020 Queen of the Forest is Grace Renecker. Grace received a $2000 Scholarship donated by Phyllis & Duane Guenther Memorial Scholarship Fund, VFW Post 1694 and Lois Gibler Kussman. Grace graduated in June from Shelton High School and was recently a full-time running start student at South Puget Sound Community College. This fall she will be attending Washington State University to major in Sociology and minor in crisis communication. Grace's goal is to return to her home town of Shelton upon graduation and work as a school guidance counselor.

Since middle school, Grace has been involved in her community, volunteering at various events and even participating in the Rural Development Initiative (2019) as a student representative. Grace is a threeyear member of the high school cheer team and had the joy of being co-captain for the past two seasons. During high school she worked to establish the Interact Club and held the role as president all three years. Mason County 4 H has been a long standing activity for Grace and she is currently a member of two clubs.

Paul Bunyan

Photo: Cooper Studios

This year's Paul Bunyan is Kain Tinajero Hernandez. Kain received a $2000 Scholarship donated by Skookum Rotary & MC Forest Festival Association. After graduating he plans to attend Saint Martin's University to pursue a career in teaching.

In high school, Kain was the webmaster for Key Club and a member of FCCLA. He worked at Evergreen in the after-school program where he had the opportunity to interact with different age groups. Students in the 3rd and 4th grades impressed him with their creativity. Kain especially enjoys spending time with his family.

Timber the Axe Man

Photo: Cooper Studios

The 2020 Timber the Axe Man is Michael Gilman. Michael received a $1500 Scholarship donated by MC Forest Festival Association. Michael is a junior at Shelton High School. After he graduates he plans on attending Central Washington University to enter their commercial pilot program. Michael is team captain of the Shelton High School wrestling team as well as a member of a Key Club and Honors Society. Michael is also a member of the climber crew; who are a group that helps freshmen acclimate to the high school's environment by showing them around and checking on them throughout the year. Michael feels that being a part of these activities has helped him become a leader and improve his public speaking.

Princess of Cedar

Photo: Cooper Studios

​ The 2020 Princess of Cedar is Kiara Reyna. She received a $1500 Scholarship donated by Kristmas Town Kiwanis & Shelton Kiwanis. Kiara is a senior at Shelton High School. After graduation she plans to attend Pima Medical Institution to become a veterinary technician.

During her senior year Kiara was involved in ASB. She was the class representative of 2020, having served that term for two years. She's been part of the Marching Band for five years. She's served as the president of the Family Career Community Leaders of America also known as FCCLA and a member of National Honors Society. Kaira has also participated on the Shelton High School track team for 2 years. Kiara is a Girl Scouts leader and has been in the scouts for eight years. She also serves as an assistant children's teacher at her church.​

Princess of Hemlock

Photo: Cooper Studios

Elle Jennings is the Princess of Hemlock. Elle will receive a $1500 Scholarship donated by Denis and Adele Leverich & MC Forest Festival Association. Elle is a graduating senior at Shelton High School. This fall she is attending Washington State University to study medicine, with the goal to be a dermatologist.

Elle is involved in the National Honors Society Program by being a "Big Buddy," in which students visit elementaries as mentors. Loving the Big Buddies program has made her routinely volunteer at Mountain View Elementary in their classrooms. Elle is a four year varsity volleyball player at Shelton High School. Elle was raised on Mason Lake where she learned to love the outdoors. She enjoys boating, surfing, and hiking.

2020 BUTTON DESIGN WINNER

Button Design Winner Ollie Abby

Photo: Cooper Studios

Congratulations to Mason County Forest Festival button designer. Ollie Abby, a student at Choice High School. Ollie's design shows this year's festival theme - "Gateway to Adventure." The button is sold throughout the community and is available for viewing any time on giant Paul Bunyan near Outlook Park (see cover image). Congratulations, Ollie on a great design!

CONGRATULATIONS 2020 MASON COUNTY FOREST FESTIVAL GRAND MARSHAL: DARREL ANDREWS

Darrel is a lifelong Mason County resident and has served as a business owner in Shelton for over 30 years. He is married with four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Darrel’s involvement in Forest Festival began as a child. From participating in the pageant at Loop Field to serving as a past Forest Festival President, Darrel has been very involved in the event since the 1950s. Darrel and his wife Linda are the creators of a wonderful slideshow containing pictures of all the floats from the very beginning of Forest Festival through today. The slide show is played at Coronation each year. Congratulations, Darrel, for being selected Parade Grand Marshal!

2020 Grand Marshal: Darrel Andrews

Photo: Cooper Studios

PLANNING FOR A POSTPONED CELEBRATION

Due to continued Stay Home orders and the timeline of the phased re-opening of WA State, the 76th annual Mason County Forest Festival was canceled. While all the volunteers and participants are heartbroken, they hope to plan a modified event later this year while the Royalty Court is home from their post-high school endeavors and able to participate. Follow the developments of events at masoncountyforestfestival.org.