ABOVE, L-R) Jadon Holbrook, Kaylie Klear and Slade Gossman / PHOTOS provided

JUNE 5 MEDIA RELEASE__The Foss-Agin-Meyer Post of the American Legion in Ada is proud to announce this year’s delegates to Buckeye Boys State and Buckeye Girls State. They are Kaylie Klear, Slade Gossman and Jadon Holbrook.

Kaylie is the daughter of Nick and Rachel Klear. She attends Ada High School where she is active in band, Varsity Singers band and the quiz bowl team. She is also active with her church, Our Lady of Lourdes and is an Eagle Scout with her Scouting America troop in Marion.

Slade is the son of Matt and Katie Gossman. He attends Ada High School where he is active in football, basketball and track. He is also a member of FFA , Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the National Honor Society.

Jadon Holbrook is the son of Scott and Sherli Holbrook of Alger. Jadon attends Apollo Career Center.  Jadon is a member of the Upper Scioto Marching Band, has been active in student government and on the student advisory board at Apollo, and active in theater at USV. He is also active in Ada Scout Troop 124 and FFA. He is also a past local winner in the American Legion Americanism and Government Test.

Buckeye Boys State is held at Miami University from June 8 to 15 while Buckeye Girls State is at Bowling Green State University from June 8 to 14. The  programs are very similar. Delegates will set up a mock state government and run it for the week. This gives the youth an opportunity to see how our government works (or doesn’t work). They will have the opportunity to run for offices on all levels: city, county and state. Along with these opportunities they will also meet with real state officials and on some occasions have a question and answer session with them. Upon their return they will give an oral report of their experience to the Legion post.

Ada American Legion Post 185 selects its candidates from three area schools: Ada, Upper Scioto Valley, and Hardin Northern. On occasion we do accept candidates outside of our area. The process of selection usually starts in January or February.  Final decisions are usually made by the end of March. Delegates must have finished their junior year and not yet finished their senior year to be eligible. Those students who wish to attend either program for 2026 and will be juniors during the 2025-26 school year should notify the school guidance counselor or their social studies teacher in the late fall to be put on a list of candidates.