Allen participates at Wyoming Boys’ State

Lovell High School student Jarrett Allen recently attended Wyoming Boys’ State over the summer.

Sponsored by the American Legion, Wyoming Boys’ State is held in June every year and gives a chance for high school juniors from across the state to participate in a week-long event to gain knowledge of their state’s governmental structure, according to the Wyoming Boys’ State website.

Delegates learn firsthand how governments work and experience what it takes to create and enact laws.

The week emphasizes leadership, civic engagement and patriotism.

Speakers include officials from city, county, state and federal levels of government who represent executive, legislative and judicial branches.

In the process of working together, the delegates develop lifelong friendships.

The week culminates with a visit to the state Capitol in Cheyenne, where the delegates occupy the House and Senate chambers, as well as the various offices and agencies of Wyoming’s government and meet elected officials, the website states.

Allen was the only person from Lovell to attend but was joined by five others from around the Big Horn Basin.

“I really enjoyed the experience,” Allen said. “I loved getting to meet new, awesome people from around the state.

“In my city government (about 20 of the 60 people there) I was appointed to the office of Parks and Recreation by our mayor.”

Allen didn’t have to run for that office, but he did run for state superintendent of public instruction in the general election where all 60 attendees voted, and he had to give a speech and do a debate.

Allen won that election, which he said was really fun.

“When we went to the state Capitol, I got to talk with some of the people who work closely with the governor, though he wasn’t there, and neither was the actual state superintendent.”

He and his fellow delegates also got to debate bills in a House of Representatives style, which Allen really enjoyed.

“Another part I loved was getting to listen to the guest speakers they brought,” Allen said. “I got to hear from the mayor of Laramie and both U.S. Senators from Wyoming.”

Allen liked hearing about the work they do, and the whole experience really opened his eyes to what actually goes on in government, especially at the city and state level.

“That is where some of the most important work that affects me goes on,” Allen said.

Allen will possibly consider running for a government office someday because of the experience and encourages others to attend in the future if given the opportunity.

Wyoming Boys’ State participants from Lovell are sponsored by Robert Boyd Stewart America Legion Post 11.