BROOKINGS — Quynn Nielson, a student at Sioux Valley High School and a resident of Volga, received a unique honor last month.
She was elected to serve as the 2026 governor for South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary Girls State.
Nielson joined rising high school seniors from across the state at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion on May 24-28 for the premier civic leadership program. During the intensive nonpartisan event, citizens organized themselves into mock political parties, campaigned for office, debated legislation, and participated in parliamentary procedures to learn the inner workings of municipal, county, and state government.
After a competitive election process, Nielson successfully campaigned and was elected by her peers to serve as the South Dakota Girls State governor.
“I ran my governor’s campaign on the foundation of unity which is what I experienced at South Dakota Girls State,” Nielson said. “I was given the opportunity by Volga American Legion Auxiliary Unit 114 to not only learn more about our country, but to have an excellent experience meeting new friends along the way.”
On being elected Girls State governor, she said, “I was honestly really, really shocked. I wanted it to happen, but it’s one of those things that you don’t really believe it until it does happens. I was so honored.”
As part of her governorship she will be delivering speeches around the state at various Auxiliary events. Her first speech will be this weekend in Aberdeen at the state Legion Auxiliary convention. She said she’s prepared for that. She won the state public speaking FFA contest and she will be competing at the national contest this fall. She said that and her theater experience have helped make her comfortable at speaking engagements
Nielson, the daughter of Peter and Amy Nielson, will be a senior at SVHS in the fall. She plans to attend SDSU after graduation to pursue a degree in political science. And then she plans to attend law school with the ultimate goal of being a criminal defense or divorce attorney.
She said she appreciates the support of the Volga Legion Auxiliary. And she encouraged area girls to participate in the program. “It is really important to learn how our government system works. It’s scary if you don’t,” she said.
She said she has alway had and interest in politics. “That and our government system, I really like knowing how our government works,” she said.
Last winter she served as a page for state Sen. Casey Crabtree.
Outside of ALA Girls State, Nielson is highly active in her community and school. She participates in chorus, theater, National Honor Society, FFA and student council at Sioux Valley High School. She is district and chapter president for FFA. She is also student body president and also serves as NHS secretary.
She works as a seasonal gardener at McCrory Gardens. She is in her fourth year there. And she applies that as her supervised ag experience for FFA.
“We are so excited to have Quynn represent ALA South Dakota Girls state as the 2026 governor,” Tiffany French, ALA Girls State director, said in a news release.. “She ran a wonderful campaign that showed grace, poise, and professionalism which exemplifies her character. She will be a wonderful example to incoming juniors who will be eligible to a^end ALA SD Girls State 2027.”
According to a Legion release, ALA Girls State is a privately funded program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Since its inception in 1937, the program has taught nearly 1 million young women how state and local governments operate. To learn more about the program or get involved, visit the official ALA SD Girls State website.
— Contact Doug Kott at [email protected].
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