Meet the Constitutional Officers for Minnesota Boys State

By Neil Kruse
Above are the boys elected as Constitutional Officers at the 2024 session of Minnesota Boys State. Front row, from left, are Associate Justice Kaden Freeman, Gov. Tucker Fourneir and Secretary of State Wyatt Pohlen. In back are Chief Justice Ethan Backes, Associate Justice Logan Schad, Attorney General Lonne Gilbert, Lt. Gov. Cade Wright and Auditor Ethan Leimer. Photo by Alex Booth

Constitutional Officers for 2024 Boys State
Governor: Tucker Fournier, Osseo Post 172
Lt. Governor: Cade Wright, Woodbury Post 501
Secretary of State: Wyatt Pohlen, Taunton Post 604
State Auditor: Ethan Leimer, St. James Post 33
Attorney General: Lonne Gilbert, Watertown Post 121
Chief Justice: Ethan Backes, Osseo Post 172
Associate Justice: Logan Schad, Melrose Post 101
Associate Justice: Kaden Freeman, Blackduck Post 372

Fournier and Gilbert were selected to be Boys Nation Senators from Minnesota. Boys Nation is July 19-26 in Washington, D.C.

COLLEGEVILLE — Celebrating the 75th session of Minnesota’s American Legion Boys State began with a banquet at Anoka Post 102 on Saturday, June 8.

Following a tasty meal, former Boys State Director Mike Bredeck spoke and introduced guest speakers Hank Shea, Greg Orman, and Zach Duckworth.

Dave Way was recognized for his contributions over the 50 years he has served the organization. Counselors from the past caught up with each other and current counselors were excited about the upcoming week.

Neil Kruse

The nearly 170 young men to participate this year were divided amongst six cities and three counties for the week at St. John’s University in Collegeville. Informative speakers about the three branches of Minnesota’s government, as well as local government officials, answered questions of the young men interested in boosting their knowledge of their state’s political happenings.

Gov. Tim Walz, a Legion member of Mankato Post 11, visited on Thursday and spoke to the boys.

The week concluded with an energetic chorus concert, followed by Gov. Nick Meuleners passing his powers on to the newly elected governor, Tucker Fournier.

Thank you to the Legion visitors during the week. I hope they have a better understanding of Boys State and even more will visit next year. Encourage the young men you sponsored to pass on their knowledge and experiences to the guys in the class behind them.

Parades, local celebrations, and fairs are places they can spread the word of the positive results of their participation in 2024.

My thanks to you for your American Legion post’s financial and verbal support!

Neil Kruse is a counselor at Minnesota Boys State.