South Dakota Public Radio

High schoolers are learning about the governmental process through those with real world experience. US Representative Kristi Noem spoke to South Dakota Girl State delegates in Vermillion.

A full auditorium welcomes the US Representative from Watertown. Students from hundreds of towns are gathered on the University of South Dakota campus to learn about state and local government. Girls State delegates learn from participating in mock elections and listening to speakers.

Congresswoman Kristi Nome tells of her life and experience working in state and federal government. She encourages the Girls Staters to seize opportunities and be persistent despite failures.

Students also asked questions, covering bipartisanship in Washington DC, gender equality in government and climate change.

Noem says Girl Staters often ask the most compelling questions and really want to get to the bottom of issues. She says programs like this have a huge impact on the future.

“The fact that the kids, these young folks today take a whole week, and they come down here and spend involved in here and learning about the government process, learning about public service, that’s really key, as long as they do that and set aside that kind of time, I will always come and speak to them if asked, because it’s important to me that this is a focus I wish most kids today had. The fact that they set aside that time is important to the future of this country,” says Noem.

Noem says the hardest thing about working in government is spending less time with family. Girl State has run all week and ends on Saturday.