8 minute read
#TIMBERSTRONG ALL SUMMER LONG
from Fjord | Summer 2021
by Imagination
Mick Sprouffske| Mason County Forest Festival Board President
There a lot of ways to start this off when thinking about 2020 and the pandemic. But what comes to mind to me is how resilient our communities are. We made it through some tough times, showing our grit and forging ahead. Great job Mason County. I know that we lost members of this great county to the pandemic, please keep them in your memories and help those families if you can.
The Mason County Forest Festival Board and Committees worked hard last year to plan a 2020 event, postponing it a couple of times, finally reluctantly canceling Forest Festival for the first time since its inception in 1945.
We did coronate a 2020 Royalty Court. The Court did a great job working on virtual events on Facebook Live and volunteering at Christmastown events. The Board, Committees and the Royalty Court all gave their best to keep the Forest Festival spirit alive.
Forest Festival 2021 is going to be a fun filled event, celebrating the 77th year, themed, Families Of The Forest. This year we are splitting up our events with the Run the Ridge 5k and 10k run at Ridge Motorsports Park on June 5th and the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade, Log Show Exhibition, Firefighters Pancake Breakfast, Kiwanis Duck Race, Rockin The Forest, and Fireworks will be on September 18th. New this year, we are promoting Timber Days events throghout the summer. Timber Days (June 4-5) kicks off the 77th Forest Festival Friday evening with a float reveal. The 2021 Royalty and their newly decorated float will be taking a drive around town, ending their tour downtown at Timber Days where everyone will enjoy live music, classic forest/logging themed outdoor movies, crafts, games and more.
The July Timber Days is themed "Christmas in July" (July 30-31). Forest Festival will also be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Green Diamond’s Colonial House with a Royalty Tea on Saturday July 31. This ticketed event will be a lovely garden tea party hosted by our 2021 Royalty.
August 20 - 21, Timber Days celebrates Smokey Bear and promoting "Forest Fire Awareness." This year Smokey Bear is celebrating his 77th birthday on August 9th. Look for the schedule of events on the following pages and at masoncountyforestfestival.com.
Whether started by lightning or human, fire is a natural part of the landscape. However, fire was and is something that loggers and forest managers despise for its loss of timber, equipment and, most of all, loss of life. By the late 1930's there had been so many forest fires that local, state and eventually national efforts began public campaigns to prevent wildfire. The Keep Green Movement originated right here in Shelton. Eventually the Keep Green Movement became the Keep Washington Green Association. Forest Festival was an auxiliary member of the local chapter of the Keep Washington Green Committee, a relationship that lasted for 50 years.
Paul Bunyan Beard Contest
Paul Bunyan Beard Contest The Paul Bunyan Beard Contest will making a return this year to the Mason County Forest Festival! This is a vintage Forest Festival event that we are so excited to bring back. Much of this event will be virtual this year, but we hope to honor the winners at the parade. We can’t wait to see all the beards!
Categories:
Best Paul Bunyan Look-a-like Best Full Beard Best Partial Beard
$25 entry fee for a years worth of bragging rights! (includes professional photograph at Cooper Studios for use online.) Winners announced before the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade (Sept 18) Contest commences 5/24/21 and is open to submissions until 11:59 EST on 8/25/21. masoncountyforestfestival.com/beard
Forest Festival would like to thank all of the sponsors that make this possible. Many sponsors are local small business, please support them by buying local when you can. Attend as many of this year's Mason County Forest Festival Events as you wish. All events will be Covid compliant and family friendly. Be safe and have lots of fun!
The Forest Festival Queen was also the Miss Keep Washington Green. For many years of Forest Festival, there were parade floats themed around forest fire prevention and logging history. The Smokey Bear campaign is still going strong but the Keep Washington Association ended many years ago. Unfortunately wildfire is more prevalent now in Washington State and the western US than it was in the late 1930's when the above efforts began.
AMY COOPER, MCCF Vice-president
ROYALTY: MASON COUNTY FOREST FESTIVAL
Photo Credits: Cooper Studios ®
Each year the Forest Festival Royalty is selected from a stellar group of Mason County Juniors and Seniors. All of the students who participated in the coronation were wonderful. Mason County Forest Festival's royalty was crowned on March 13, 2021.
Queen Izzabella
Hello, my name is Izzabella Hiatt-Jackson and I am extremely honored to be this year’s Queen of the Forest! I am a senior at Shelton High School, and a full-time running start student at Olympic Community College. In the fall I will be continuing my education at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri in order to pursue a bachelors in health sciences with a minor in psychology, with a career goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist. Mason County has been my home since I was four years old, and I have loved every bit of it, especially in recent years where I have gotten to be involved within the community. I am a two year member of National Honors Society where I was given the chance to participate in the Big Buddies program at Evergreen Elementary School. I am also a member of HOSA, NOMT, and Key Club. Outside of school I have participated in volunteering at Mason General and as an assistant youth soccer coach. All of these have helped me develop good communication skills and become more confident in my abilities to lead and learn. Mason County has given me numerous opportunities to excel and grow in life and I hope to be as involved as I can in these unknowing times. I am beyond excited to be giving back to my community and to get close to the other royalty throughout this year!
Queen Izzy. Photo Credits: Cooper Studios ®
Princess Wesley
Hello! I am Wesley Harmon, Princess of Cedars 2021. Currently, I am a Senior at Shelton High School and running start student at Olympic College. In June I will graduate from SHS with my high school diploma, as well as from OC with my Associate’s degree. Next year I plan to attend Saint Martin’s University to pursue a degree in Secondary Teaching, with the hopes of teaching at Shelton High School one day. I am a senior co-captain of the SHS cheer team. In my spare time I like to paint and draw and enjoy crafts! I am looking forward to participating in the first dose of covid free Forest Festival activities, and spreading the word about what makes Mason County so amazing. In fact, I ran for Forest Festival royalty because I want to learn more about, and teach others about, the rich history of Mason County.
Princess Wesley Photo Credits: Cooper Studios ®
Princess Sierra
My name is Sierra Severance and I am the 2021 Princess of Hemlock. Currently a junior at Shelton High School, as well as a part-time daycare teacher, after graduation I plan to earn a teaching degree and become a certified ASL interpreter. I am so grateful that I am involved in extracurricular activities such as marching band, national honors society, and dance classes with the Shelton dance center. I am so excited to work with such a wonderful court and give back to our vibrant community this year. I look forward to seeing you all this year!
Princess Sierra | Photo Credits: Cooper Studios ®
Paul Bunyan: Michael
My name is Michael Gilman. I am a senior at Shelton High School. After I graduate my goal is to attend Central Washington University to become a commercial pilot. I am a team captain of Shelton High School's wrestling team, and a member of a key club and honors society. I am also a member of the Climber Crew, a group that helps freshmen acclimate to high school by showing them around and checking on them throughout the year. Being a part of these activities has helped me develop leadership and public speaking skills. I am proud of my community and am happy that I get a chance to become even more involved as Paul Bunyan!
Paul Bunyan | Photo Credits: Cooper Studios ®
Timber the Axe Man: Emmett
My name is Emmett Bryz-Gornia and I am a Senior at North Mason High School. This summer I will be an intern at the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group. Currently I am Co-President of the Class Of 2021; Captain for Boys Tennis; President of FFA, ASB, and National Honors Society; as well as Drum Major for the Band. I was also named Boys and Girls Club North Mason Branch Youth of the Year.
I am most excited about having the opportunity to live up to this year's Mason County Forest Festival theme and create a family of the forest with my fellow court members, their families, and all the other wonderful people that make this event possible!"
Timber the Axe Man | Photo Credits: Cooper Studios
