WADENA — The 73rd session of the Minnesota American Legion Boys State welcomed in Verndale student Jeremy Haskin to the ranks this summer.
Jeremy was given the honor to attend and was sponsored by the local Wadena American Legion Post 171. He spent a week in June at the program learning about how government functions in the United States.
Haskin, who is busy with football and marching band this summer, said he was given the opportunity to attend the event when he came recommended by Verndale School Superintendent Paul Brownlow. He wasn’t sure about it, but determined the trip could be worthwhile.
In his first few days at Boys State he learned about parliamentary procedure. At one point, Jeremy ran for city council but was not elected. He might have had a better chance but took an afternoon off to attend to the baseball state tournament that was also going on. The citizens of his chosen city, St. Paul, were understanding of his desire to catch the baseball excitement.
Now that he at least has some experience in an election, he feels maybe it’s in his future.
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“Maybe, just maybe,” he said.
He shared that it was eye opening to be a part of something that involved boys from all over the state.
“One of the big things was just seeing people from beyond the Verndale and Wadena area,” Jeremy said. “It was nice to just get away.”
Jeremy said the visit was more than just learning about how government works and was also a nice way to get in a college visit. He encourages others that get the chance to go to take the opportunity. Jeremy is the son of Pam and Scott Haskin.
“Just do it,” he said. “Not many people get to do it. You can take away a lot of skills. It’s just a week of your summer.”
In addition to the American Legion sending boys to Boys State each year, the American Legion Auxiliary can also send girls to Girls State. It's open to recent high school juniors.
Founded over 70 years ago on the University of Minnesota campus, Boys State is now a national program practiced in 49 states. The program has been developed on the fundamental assumption that youth can best 'learn to do by doing.' The mechanics of government in Minnesota Boys State are patterned after the established agencies of city, county, and state government in Illinois. For all practical purposes, Minnesota Boys State may be regarded as a mythical 51st state with a constitution, body of law, and practices peculiar to it alone. Our student to staff ratio is 8:1, so plenty of personalized attention is given to all of our citizens.
To find out more about this opportunity for youth, contact the local American Legion club member John Pate at 218-631-2665.
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