Nichole Greene, who represented the West Virginia Oil and Gas Festival in Sistersville, was chosen from a group of nearly 90 contestants at an annual pageant in Charleston as "Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals." August 9-17. she will be attending the State Fair of West Virginia with her title.

Nichole Greene was chosen from among nearly 90 contestants as “Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals” at the group’s annual pageant held in Charleston Jan. 11-12. Greene, who represented the West Virginia Oil and Gas Festival in Sistersville in the “Queen of Queens” contest, will reign over the State Fair of West Virginia August 9-17, 2013.

Finalists in the contest include: First Runner-Up Whitney Johnson, West Virginia Pumpkin Festival; Second Runner-Up Leslie Garrett, Lewis County Fair; Third Runner-Up Chelsey Nazelrodt, West Virginia Three Rivers Festival; and Fourth Runner-Up Andrea Mucino, Paw Paw District Fair.

Consisting of nearly 150 member-events throughout the Mountain State, the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals (WVAFF) provides members with informational and networking opportunities. The annual convention includes a trade show and entertainment showcase that assists event representatives in booking activities for their respective events.

Among the informational sessions this year were “Emergency Planning for Fairs & Festivals,” presented by Roy McCallister, West Virginia Department of Agriculture Homeland Security Threat Preparedness and Response Officer, and “Nothing Compares to Face to Face,” presented by International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) representative Meri Smith with the Arkansas State Fair.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the WVAFF kicked off the Dream Big food drive campaign organized IAFE Board Chair Marlene Pierson Jolliffe, CEO of the State Fair of West Virginia.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law.

The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.