Local students to attend 2024 Boys State

LITTLE ROCK — More than 565 of the state’s brightest young men will attend Arkansas Boys State, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion. This summer’s 83rd annual session runs May 26-31 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

The program’s 2024 enrollment marks its largest class of young men in seven years.

During their week at Arkansas Boys State, these students, known as “delegates,” are assigned a political party, city and county.

Throughout the week, delegates, from the ground up, administer this mock government as if it were real: they run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges, and engage constituents.

“This year’s remarkable growth speaks to how this program is playing a life-changing role in the lives of the young men who join us year after year,” said Jackson Conner, assistant director of engagement. “We’re thrilled that these students are joining us and will experience this once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity in just a few weeks.”

At Arkansas Boys State, participants will be guided through their experience by more than 70 volunteers who serve the program. The staff of volunteers includes college students and career professionals with interests and expertise in education, finance, industry, politics and government, journalism, and more.

Local students attending Arkansas Boys State 2024 are:

• From Farmington High School: Ryan Berger, Kolten Grant, Jaden Batey, Taylor Conran, Mitchell York, Kaleb Crotser, Miles Batson.

• From Lincoln High School: Cobi Brandt.

• From Prairie Grove: Jarrett Bone.