All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Strawberry Festival selects 2023 Junior Royalty Queen and court at weekend pageant

2023 WVSF Junior Royalty Queen Allie Rhodes (left) with the 2022 WVSF Junior Royalty Queen Channing Gillum at the March 11 Pageant / All photos by Beckie Boyd / Forever Snapshots

BUCKHANNON – The West Virginia Strawberry Festival selected the 2023 Junior Royalty Queen and court members during the annual Junior Royalty Pageant on Saturday, March 11, at Buckhannon-Upshur High School.

The 81st West Virginia Strawberry Festival — Strawberry Freedom — will be held May 13-21, 2023 in Buckhannon. Stay tuned for a full schedule of events!

The West Virginia Strawberry Festival Board would like to thank the following businesses for their Queen package donations: Caroline and Co. Boutique, Tateep Unique Boutique, The Outpost Boutique and Event Center and Anita’s Flowers and Boutique. The balloon arch was made by Sabrina Carson-Warren of Unique Seat Boutique.

Please welcome the Junior Royalty Court for the 81st West Virginia Strawberry Festival:

Pictured, from left, 2023 Junior Royalty Age 4-5 Princess: Ava Woods, 2023 Junior Royalty Age 4-5 Prince: Paul Westfall, Age 4-5 Princess’s 1st Maid: Maezie Koon and Age 4-5 Princess’s 2nd Maid: Raegan Dean (Photo by Beckie Boyd / Forever Snapshots)

2023 81st Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Age 4-5 Princess Ava Woods and Prince Paul Westfall

Boys: Strawberry Spirit, Photogenic and Prince – Paul Westfall

Girls:

Photogenic – Maezie Koon

Strawberry Spirit – Raegan Dean

2nd Maid – Raegan Dean

1st Maid – Maezie Koon

Princess – Ava Woods

Pictured, from left, Age 6-7 Photogenic: Kinley Stasia, 2023 WVSF Junior Royalty Age 6-7 Prince: Hudson Chidester, 2023 WVSF Junior Royalty Age 6-7 Princess: Aniya Slaughter, Age 6-7 Princess’s 2nd Maid: Bailey Dean and Age 6-7 Princess’s 1st Maid: Ellieana Ree (Photo by Beckie Boyd / Forever Snapshots)

2023 81st Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Age 6-7 Princess Aniya Slaughter and Prince Hudson Chidester

Boys: Photogenic and Prince – Hudson Chidester

Girls:

Photogenic – Kinley Stasia

2nd Maid – Bailee Dean

1st Maid – Ellieana Ree

Princess – Aniya Slaughter

Pictured, from left, Age 8-9 Princess’s 2nd Maid: Kaylee Arnold, 2023 WVSF Junior Royalty Age 8-9 Princess Ava Hinkle, and Age 8-9 Princess’s 1st Maid: Presley Smith (Photo by Beckie Boyd / Forever Snapshots)

2023 81st Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Age 8-9 Princess Ava Hinkle

Photogenic – Ava Hinkle

3rd Maid – Melody Lamb

2nd Maid – Kaylee Arnold

1st Maid- Presley Smith

Princess – Ava Hinkle

Pictured, from left, Age 10-11 Princess’s 1st Maid: Alexis Terranova, 2023 WVSF Junior Royalty Age 10-11 Princess Britlee Basagic, and Age 10-11 Princess’s 2nd Maid: Addison Miley (Photo by Beckie Boyd / Forever Snapshots)

2023 81st Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Age 10-11 Princess Britlee Basagic

Photogenic – Britlee Basagic

2nd Maid – Addison Miley

1st Maid – Alexis Terranova

Princess – Britlee Basagic

Pictured, from left, are Junior Royalty Queen’s 1st Maid: Emma Woods, 2023 WVSF Junior Royalty Queen Allie Rhodes and Junior Royalty Queen’s 2nd Maid: Tatum Hulver (Photo by Beckie Boyd / Forever Snapshots)

2023 81st Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Age 12-13 Queen Allie Rhodes

Photogenic – Emma Hare

2nd Maid – Tatum Hulver

1st Maid – Emma Hare

Queen – Allie Rhodes

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