Alabama Boys State invites some of the state’s best and brightest young men to learn about Alabama legislature, and Pike County had four delegates participate in the program.

Steven Baxter, Trai Jackson, Taylor Oliver and Harrison Reeves had the opportunity to participate in the 73rd Annual Alabama Boys State, which took place at the University of Alabama.

The Alabama Boys State is directed by retired Judge Pete Johnson and sponsored by the American Legion. The program gives accomplished high school juniors, who are expected to be campus leaders during their senior year the following fall, the opportunity learn about the Alabama government and how it functions on the city, county and state levels.

“I learned a lot,” Jackson said.

Jackson is the son of Patricia Jackson and was a delegate representing Charles Henderson High School. During the program, he developed policies to address problems facing public education in the state of Alabama.

Baxter is the son of Jan Lee, and was a delegate representing Charles Henderson High.

He learned about business and economic development strategies for the future of Alabama.

Oliver is the son of Donna and Chris Oliver, and was a delegate representing Pike Liberal Arts School. Oliver was able to learn about opportunities in the engineering and computer science fields.

He was also able to learn about the different technologies that are currently emerging.

The delegates were divided into different cities, and each city elected officials and representatives.

Reeves was elected to the program’s House of Representatives, where he wrote and debated bills of importance to all Alabama citizens.

“We considered bills on the oil spill, road repair and things ordinary citizens would go through on a daily basis,” Reeves said.

The leadership program is by invitation only, and delegates who attended had to first be selected by their school faculty and community leaders.

“(My parents) were very proud of me,” Reeves said. “Proud that I proved I was a good leader, and they were happy for me to learn more (at Boys State).”

Reeves is the son of Robbie and Allen Reeves, and was a delegate representing Charles Henderson High.