Department Junior Conference was fun

By Jean Walker, Junior Activities chairman
Here are the 2025-26 honorary junior officers: In back from left are Secretary Rylee Wolbeck, 2nd Vice President Chloe Carter, President Anastasia Donnelly and 1st Vice President Abigail Koltes. In front are Sergeant-at-Arms Regan McElroy, Chaplain Brooklyn Mahoney, Treasurer Lauren Lampman and Historian Katelyne Walker.

The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota 61st Annual Department Junior Conference was held on Saturday, April 12, hosted by the 10th District at the Anoka Post 102. Honorary Department Junior President Teriana Richards did an outstanding job of running the conference.

There were 30 units represented with 34 Junior members and 60 senior members and American Legion Family guests for a total of 94 attendees. The juniors had a fun Friday evening with great food and lots of fun at the Carnival themed activities thanks to the 10th District and Anoka Unit 102.

Junior members had the opportunity to participate in three poppy contests. It was hard to choose the winners because we had so many awesome entries.

POPPY JEWELRY/ACCESSORIES CONTEST

Class I:
1st Place: Daisy Welter, Stewartville Unit 164, District 1
2nd Place: Hazel Mertens, Kimball Unit 261, District 6

Class II:
1st Place: Lilly Quaife, Argyle Unit 353, District 9
2nd Place: Peyton Ferguson-Stuart, Argyle Unit 353, District 9

Class III:
1st Place: Anita Mertens-Maxson, Kimball Unit 261, District 6
2nd Place: Mattea Efta, Argyle Unit 353, District 9

POPPY CORSAGE/BUTTONNIERE CONTEST

Class I:

1st Place: Hazel Mertens, Kimball Unit 261, District 6
2nd Place: Harley Nelson, Argyle Unit 353, District 9

Class II:
1st Place: Piper Dragan, Kimball Unit 261, District 6
2nd Place: Amber Mertens, Kimball Unit 261, District 6

Class III:
1st Place: Brooke Miller, Warren Unit 27, District 9
2nd Place: Markelle Pederson, Warren Unit 27, District 9

POPPY MEMORIAL DAY WREATH

Class I:
1st Place          Daisy Welter, Stewartville Unit 164, District 1
2nd Place        Hazel Mertens, Kimball Unit 261, District 6

Class II:
1st Place          Izzy Slovinski-Zipperer, Stewartville Unit 164, District 1
2nd Place        Miley Mahoney, Clinton Unit 258, District 7

Class III:
1st Place          Chloe Carter, Sanborn Unit 286, District 2
2nd Place        Brooke Mertens, Kimball Unit 261, District 6

OFFICERS

2025-2026 officers were elected and installed by Department President Judy Ackerman.

The newly elected Honorary Department Junior Officers are:

Honorary President: Anastasia Donnelly, Northrop Unit 522, District 2

Honorary 1st Vice Pres: Abigail Koltes, Melrose Unit 101, District 6

Honorary 2nd Vice Pres: Chloe Carter, Sanborn Unit 286, District 2

Honorary Secretary: Rylee Wolbeck, Brandon Unit 278, District 7

Honorary Treasurer: Lauren Lampman, Northrop Unit 522, District 2

Honorary Chaplain: Brooklyn Mahoney, Clinton Unit 258, District 7

Honorary Historian: Katelyne Walker, Brandon Unit 278, District 7

Honorary Sgt-at-Arms: Regan McElroy, LeRoy Unit 161, District 1

Minnesota’s Official Delegate to the NW Division National Junior Meeting is Anastasia Donnelly, Northrop Unit 522, District 2