Each year Minnesota’s American Legion posts and auxiliaries choose one male and one female to participate in the Legion-sponsored Boys and Girls State.
Open to high school juniors, the programs’ primary purpose is to teach how government works, according to the organization’s website. Participants also work on leadership skills and learn about their rights as citizens. Boys and Girls State each last five days.
Girls State takes place from June 7-12 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
Zoey Brown of Luverne will represent the Hardwick American Legion Auxiliary, and Mira Uithoven of Magnolia was chosen to represent the Luverne American Legion Auxiliary.
Boys State will be June 14-20 at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
Paul Witte III of Luverne and Adam Fodness of Hardwick were chosen by the Hardwick American Legion, and Jack Baustian of Luverne will represent the Luverne American Legion.