American Legion Boys State

Welcome to South Dakota Boys State,

a program of the American Legion of South Dakota. This is a very special year for South Dakota Boys State. The 82nd session is scheduled to be held on the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, June 2-6, 2025.

The website is dedicated to broadening the understanding of the program, providing information about the program for high school juniors and their parents, and documenting their activities during the session.

Boys state information is all online. Click on link below for information and to apply.

Boys State Information

Registration Apply here
Local Deadline for Applying is April 1st to give local unit time to approve.

Media Registration DUE February 1

Boys State Media Team (Formerly Journalism City)

A special group of Boys Staters will be selected as the Boys State Media Team. Led by experienced counselors, this group of citizens will be responsible for communications for citizens in attendance and external audiences including parents, peers, and the general public. The Media Team will publish a daily video highlighting Boys State activities that will be shared via YouTube, Facebook, the Boys State web-site, and potential state wide media outlets.

Applicants to the Media Team must meet the same rigorous standards that is required of the remainder of Boys State and as Boys Staters have the same responsibilities and expectations as awarded at the end of the session.

Media Team members will write stories, shoot and edit video, work as photographers, and gain valuable experience in meeting daily deadlines and working with a variety of guest speakers, public officials, and a variety of audiences.

SOUTH DAKOTA BOYS STATE SCHOLARSHIP

South Dakota Boys State is proud to announce a new scholarship program that will award 2 South Dakota Boys State participants a $1,000 scholarship to a four year post-secondary school of their choice The scholarship is for the 2025-2026 academic year and is not renewable.

The primary criteria for this scholarship is that the recipient be accepted to South Dakota Boys State and be an active participant in the week’s activities.

For more Scholarship information

If you are a Junior Boy in Garretson, just sign up on the registration link above.

Contact bob.bennett@k12.sd.us if you have questions.

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. At Boys State, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county, and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies bands, choruses and recreational programs.

Below is the Garretson History of Boys State that we have pieced together the best we could. Please let us know if there are any corrections!

Boys State Representatives 2025

Daniel Hoskins, Jake Jones, Johen Tonsay, Nathanael Roberts

Boys State Representatives 2024

Calvin Larson, Noah Schotzko

Boys State Representatives 2023

No boys staters

Boys State Representatives 2022

Drew Pederson

Boys State Representatives 2021

Gabe Johnson

Boys State Representatives 2020--canceled due to CoVid19

These boys applied: Evan Bly, Caeden Bunde, Brady DeBates, Sam Konechne, Matthew Rattenborg, and Rave Uhlich

Boys State Representatives 2019

No boys staters

Boys State Representatives 2018

Left to right, Carter Stephenson, Dakota Johnson, Ben Konechne and Brennan Mudder

Boys State Representatives 2017

Left to right: Diontae Lymon, Ryan Fick, Marc Rattenborg, Isaiah Mader, Mark Vandersnick, Nicholas Lundberg, Zebadiah Johnson, Jack Konechne

Not pictured Hunter Carver and Collin Flahaven

Boys State Representatives 2016

Left to right: Noah Rieber, Jacob Fitzgerald, Riley Nordstrom, Shay Gibson, Alex Uhl, and Elijah Pierret

Not pictured Jacob Hansman

Boys State Representatives 2015

Cole Fiegen, Evan Fick, Garret Sands, and Micah Mader

Boys State Representatives 2014

Josh Liester, Bryce Wollman

Boys State Representatives 2013

Austin Etrheim, Shane Mueller, Alex Thoreson

Boys State Representatives 2012

Alex Anderson, Thomas Howe, Brady Mudder, Christian Mader

Boys State Representatives 2011

Jakob Ehtriem, Michael Lau, Dan Long

Boys State Representatives 2010

None

Boys State Representatives 2009

Tyler Ehtreim, Adam Halverson, Ryan Conrad

Boys State Representatives 2008

Chase Ward

Boys State Representatives 2007

Jeremy Nelson, Ryan Larson

Boys State Representatives 2006

Jacob Anderson, Tyler Kientopf

Boys State Representatives 2005

Travis Williamson, Joshua Bartels, Andrew Oveson, Brad Howe

Boys State Representatives 2004

Zack Anderson, Blake Kaiser, Nathan DeWit

Boys State Representatives 2003

Matthew Kurtz, Charlie Ward, Joseph Piche

Boys State Representatives 2002

Austin Danielson, Brandon Mullenberg, Joel Hanson

Boys State Representatives 2001

Nick Schotzko, Steve Bly, Zach Gutzmer

Boys State Representatives 2000

Willie Christenson, Derek Arend, Brock Pitz

Boys State Representatives 1999

Tony Schotzko, Gary Kringen, Jason Nietzert

Boys State Representatives 1998

Jeremy Mueller

Boys State Representatives 1997

Matt DeSchepper, Nathan Vandersnick

Boys State Representatives 1996

Andy Schotzko, Randy Kringen

Boys State Representatives 1995

Brian Larson, Nathan Risty

Boys State Representatives 1994

Matthew Jacobson, Troy Williamson

Boys State Representatives 1993

Frank Quamen, Mike Clark

Boys State Representatives 1992

Josh Winter, Chris Engebretson

Boys State Representatives 1991

Tim Sylliaasen, Jesse Kelm

Boys State Representatives 1990

Paul Vandeberg, Randy Smith

**RANDY SMITH WAS STATE GOVERNOR

Boys State Representatives 1989

Aaron Gnadt

Boys State Representatives 1988

Jonathan Nelson

Boys State Representatives 1987

Todd Hight, John Bly

Boys State Representatives 1986

Shaun Braun, Mark Bauer

Boys State Representatives 1985

Karl Liester, Eric Kooistra

Boys State Representatives 1984

Paul Parish, Mike Hight

Boys State Representatives 1983

Bruce Carlson, Anthony Bly

Boys State Representatives 1982

Dave Bjorneberg, Tom Froseth

Boys State Representatives 1981

Chris Nelson, Dean Hammer

Boys State Representatives 1980

Todd Brebner

Boys State Representatives 1979

Brian Johnson, Bill Wright

Boys State Representatives 1978

Mike Johnson, Stuart Schreurs

Boys State Representatives 1977

Dale Zweep, Mark Bjorneberg

Boys State Representatives 1976

Reid Nelson, Dan Bly

Boys State Representatives 1975

Dale Moeller, Ben Johnson

Boys State Representatives 1974

Steve Engebretson, James DeVries

Boys State Representatives 1973

David Ellefson, Dennis Reidel

Boys State Representatives 1972

Dave Quaman, Gordon Erickson

Boys State Representatives 1970

Jim Julson, Mark Wangsness

Boys State Representatives 1969

Dan Hanson, Robert Wick

Boys State Representatives 1968

Bob Garry, Neil Hammer

Boys State Representatives 1967

Bruce Rekstad, Daniel Haygeman

Boys State Representatives 1966

Robin Hermanson, Stanton Solheim

Boys State Representatives 1965

Todd Schmidt, James Winterton

Boys State Representatives 1964

Ed Bauman, Duane Hermanson

Boys State Representatives 1963

Tom Lock, Ivan Eitreim

Boys State Representatives 1962

David Johnson, Bob Karli

Boys State Representatives 1961

Don Aucutt, Bill Liester

Boys State Representatives 1960

Dean Williamson, Patrick Haley

Boys State Representatives 1959

Sidney Williamson, Gene Johnson

Boys State Representatives 1958

LeMoyne Pederson, Robert Beck

Boys State Representatives 1957

Mark Liester, Arden Nelson

Boys State Representatives 1956

Charles Johnson, Robert Nelson

Boys State Representatives 1955

William Stalheim, Lyle Rossing

Boys State Representatives 1954

Loren Eitreim

Boys State Representatives 1953

Warren Holzapfel, Darrell Busch

Boys State Representatives 1951

Arden Edmundson, P Lundquist

Boys State Representatives 1950

Paul Williamson, William Rossing

Boys State Representatives 1949

Frank Koens, Leslie Arneson

Boys State Representatives 1948

Clarence Franka

Boys State Representatives 1947

Richard Eitreim

Boys State Representatives 1946

Howard Hulslander

Boys State Representatives 1942-45 Four Year break for WWII

Boys State Representatives 1941

Charles Bonte

Boys State Representatives 1940

Robert Thompson

Boys State Representatives 1939

Billy Cooley

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