Legion auxiliary program seeks participants
By Angie Landsverk
The local American Legion auxiliary unit began sponsoring a delegate to Badger Girls State in 1948.
However, last year it sponsored a delegate to Badger Boys State instead.
“We did not have an applicant for the first time since 1969. The post had two applicants (for Badger Boys State), so we decided to sponsor a boy,” said Kay Grosskopf, president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 391.
The auxiliary hopes someone is interested in attending Badger Girls State this year.
The program is held each June on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus.
This year’s session is June 16-21.
The government and leadership conference is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.
The program began in 1941.
In 1967, Weyauwega native Ann Hutchinson was elected Badger Girls State governor.
There is one opportunity to participate in it – after completing the junior year of high school, said Jane Freer.
She is a member of the auxiliary, and served as the local Badger Girls State coordinator for close to 10 years.
Leslie Kiesow has now taken over that role.
Joann Miller, Weyauwega-Fremont High School’s guidance counselor, talks about the program during fall conferences, Freer said.
“It is a seven-day commitment,” Freer said. “You have to be there when it starts and when it ends.”
Giving up one week may not be easy, but there are many benefits, she said.
“If you’re a delegate and put it on scholarship applications, it will be noticed and respected,” Freer said. “A lot of kids make lifelong friends.”
Those interested in being this year’s delegate may obtain an application from Miller, and fill it out in her office.
During the program, the delegation functions as a state.
City, county and state leaders are elected.
Delegates run for an office and campaign for it, Grosskopf said.
“You have a position, and you have to fulfill that position,” she said.
The experience
Delegates to Badger Boys State also campaign for positions.
It is held at Ripon College, with this year’s session scheduled for June 8-15.
Last June, the auxiliary sponsored Brock Brunner to be a delegate.
The American Legion Post in Fremont sponsored Austin Krause.
The W-F High School seniors recently spoke to this year’s junior class about their experience at Badger Boys State.
Brunner said students expressed interest in attending the respective programs this year, with some requesting applications.
Miller presented the opportunity to both of them last year.
“I didn’t know exactly what it was. I had two friends who went the previous year. It sounded fun,” Brunner said. “I was very excited to actually end up going.”
Krause said, “After looking into it, I found it to be a program mostly devoted to teaching the younger generation about the democratic processes of our government. While that was not an extremely interesting subject for me, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to at least gain some experience on the interior processes in case I had any future interest in holding a position in a local government.”
Both are glad they went.
For Brunner, it was more than learning about government.
“The speeches weren’t just about government, but about growing up,” he said. “I learned a lot. It left a lasting impact. It’s not just about how government is built.”
Brunner said much of it was about how to be proactive.
“There was no down time. We were always doing something from the time we woke up until we went to bed. There was always something to do,” he said.
Brunner ran for a few municipal offices and was appointed a police officer.
When the mascot from his county went missing, the police officers had to get search warrants so they could go room to room in search of the mascot.
Brunner enjoyed the speeches and discussions.
He made lifelong friends and also got a feel for what life is like on a college campus.
Brunner plans to head to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville next fall to study forensic science.
He encourages students to consider being a delegate.
“It’s not what it seems like. You learn so much. You meet so many people,” he said. “I was very happy I was able to go.”
Krause also found the experience worthwhile.
“I got a lot out of the sessions that discussed the government, but the program is only possible with an immense amount of teamwork,” he said. “We, as a whole group of 900 young men, were tasked to vote for city, county and state officials. Some things didn’t go as we wanted, and the counselors there devised certain consequences based on our decisions”
In addition to learning about how government works, there were sessions on such topics as public speaking and persuasion, as well as open floor talks with veterans, he said.
“Everything there was a lot to take in, but I try to remember every bit of the once-in-a-lifetime program,” Krause said. “The counselors were awesome, and the friendships I made with the other guys in just a week’s time are still binding, and everyone I met there is fully willing to support another through any hardship.”
Krause plans to attend the University of North Dakota and pursue a major in commercial aviation.
He also encourages other to consider being a delegate.
“While you learn the ways of American government, you also gain skills that will apply to every moment of your life,” Krause said. “Teamwork is key, and you quickly learn to listen to other people and accept their ideas. You get an individual lesson on how to better impact your own community as well.”
He said, “Badger Boys State makes you think about what you have done and what you can do to change your habits to benefit everyone. You might as well make a positive impact, because we all have to live with each other no matter where we are.”