Glasgow's Feezell Takes Trip Of A Lifetime At Boys State

As Glasgow High School student Eli Feezell started his senior year, he has had quite the summer experiences to share. In addition to job shadowing at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in the lab, with his mom Michelle as a flight nurse and step-dad Stan Ozark at the radio station, Feezell also had the opportunity to be one of a few northeastern Montana representatives at Boys State at the beginning of July in Fort Harrison in Helena.

American Legion Boy State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students. The participatory program allows students to become part of the operation of local, county and state government. The students learn about the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens while also centering on the structure of city, county and state governments.

"We would have to get up at 0600, then we would have flag ceremonies at 0730, go to this thing that was called the half rack, and then start talking about the different things about government. We went through the Judicial Branch, the Legislature branch, Parley Pro. Have an hour of gym time, where we would do basketball or any sport we wanted to do then get back and get dinner at around 1700. We would have flag ceremonies at 1730 and then usually they gave us time to do either our city or party meetings," explained Feezell on what a typical day looked like. He also had the opportunity to meet Senator Jon Tester and Governor Greg Gianforte as well as spend time with them asking questions about their governmental roles.

Feezell was one of 43 high school students throughout the state who participated and one of a few northeastern Montana students as one student came from Sidney and Terry. The students were placed into parties, which Feezell was part of the Frontier party, and each party held meetings as well as caucuses to determine who was going to be the Governor and party representatives during the course of the week. The group was also divided among three different cities, where they held city meetings to make city laws, determine the Mayor and hold trials. "We were also able to hold trials for our cities and stuff because we had to come up with city laws. If anyone broke one of those, we were able to take them to trial and find out if they're guilty or not guilty," explained Feezell.

Upon reflecting on the experience, Feezel stated there was a lot to take away from the week he spent at Fort Harrison at Boys State. "I think just getting to understand the government more and being able to question a senator and the governor. Learning from what they have to take away and what they had to overcome to be able to be the Governor and Senator of Montana," said Feezell as a highlight of the trip.

The trip wasn't all work and no play though as he was also able to celebrate the 4th of July and celebrate at Fort Harrison. "We went over the Fourth of July and at Centennial Park they did a thing where they had hot dogs, root beer floats and live music. We helped the Boy Scouts bring a flag down, it was a really big flag, and we'd help raise it. After getting back, we did about a 10 minute hike, up to this hill and then just looked across the city skyline and watched all the fireworks go off," reflected Feezell on another take away memory from his time.

He recommends anyone who has the opportunity to go to Boys State to take the experience and run with it. As it gets closer to spring, posters are placed throughout the high school as the local American Legion helps promote and pays for the trip to an eligible junior entering their senior year. There is also a Girls State that the local Auxiliary helps send junior females entering their senior year. "I recommend this experience to go. It's truly an eye-opening experience," Feezell concluded.