In 1936, the first Buckeye Boys State was held by the American Legion as an educational program to educate high school students on the importance of Democracy and the processes that it incorporates.  The Ohio program is an interactive experience for the 1,300 young men selected to attend, who during the nine-day program will run for offices ranging from city councilmen to governor.  After the elections have been completed and the remaining positions appointed, these delegates will run their new city, county, and state governments for five days.  In addition to these divisions, the program has an active judiciary and school board section.  The Ohio State Highway Patrol assigns officers to the program annually, and these gentlemen direct and train a contingent of young men to serve in a law enforcement capacity during the program.  Please take a few moments to review the Official Website for more details on the program itself.

The national organization has recently released a website containing a video.  You'll see several instances of the Ohio program.

This is a competitive program, recognized by many colleges on their applications as an indication of leadership.  In most areas, the local American Legion is involved in the selection process, usually in conjunction with the high school guidance office.  In some cases, a delegate will be asked to complete an essay or an interview process to assist the selection committee in making their choice.  In all cases, however, the program is looking to send those individuals that best exemplify the American Legion's tenets of "God and Country" and that will strive to succeed within the Boys State governmental system.  If you are a high school junior and desire to attend, please contact both your high school guidance counselor and your local American Legion post as soon as possible.

Buckeye Boys State is presently conducted at Bowling Green State University and usually runs for the week terminating at Father's Day.  As the program operates on an intensive timetable, a volunteer staff of over one hundred individuals is on hand to guide the delegates through the election and governmental process.  American Legion members direct each of the governmental sections and assist in the elections, while a staff of previous Boys State attendees, largely college students, live with the delegates in each of the thirty-two cities. 

Over fifty thousand men have graduated from Buckeye Boys State since its inception, and have gone on to many stations in life, including Neil Armstrong (astronaut) and the Honorable Thomas Moyer (Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court).  The Alumni Association was created to provide a venue for past attendees to keep in touch with the program and each other, and is presently evaluating how it might more effectively serve this purpose.  If you are a past delegate to Buckeye Boys State, please send an email  if you can help in any way, including the following:

• It presently costs $265 to send one young man to the program.  If you would like to provide the experience to someone else, please consider making a donation to the Buckeye Boys State Foundation.  Prior to sending any money, please inquire at the email above so that I might put you in contact with the proper people at the American Legion Department of Ohio.

• Likewise, if you are in the position professionally, we would appreciate any assistance you could provide in procuring grants or sponsorships from your employer.  In addition to the actual cost of sending delegates to the program, there is an annual need for paper products and equipment for campaigning.  The Buckeye Boys State Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) organization, and again, I would ask that you first contact me if interested.

• Ultimately, we would like to expand the Alumni Association to provide academic, professional, and personal networking opportunities for delegates.  If you are experienced in database and/or website engineering, please contact me at the email above.  I'd love to hear from you.