American Legion Zybach-Owens Post 56 is proud to sponsor the following students from Canadian High School for the 2026 Boys State and Girls State programs: 

Boys State: Joseph Dominguez, Pedro Colomo, Brandon Soto, JW Coffee, Abram Flynn
Girls State: Samantha Benson, Maile Quisenberry, Mirabelle Brown, Landry Appel 

Texas Boys State and Girls State are week-long, intensive government-in-action programs sponsored by The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. Boys State is held in Austin on the University of Texas campus. Girls State is held a week later in Seguin on the campus of Texas Lutheran University. 

High school delegates set up functioning city, county, and state governments, gaining hands-on experience in the legislative, executive, and political processes. The program emphasizes leadership development, civic engagement, and the principles of American citizenship. They also tour the State Capitol Building.

In a first for Post 56, Canadian High School teacher Bradley Baker will also be attending Boys State as a Staff Counselor. Texas Boys State is highly selective in its counselor process, drawing only around 100 counselors from across the entire state of Texas. 

Counselors are chosen based on:
• Background in education, law, or government
• Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring young men
• Representation of the model character and experience the program demands 

This year marks the first time a member of Zybach-Owens Post 56 will serve as a Texas Boys State counselor. Baker, a Canadian High School English teacher and retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service, has been selected to serve on the counselor staff. 

Baker brings extensive leadership experience to the role, having served as a CBRN Weapons Specialist, Certified Emergency Manager, Senior Enlisted Leader for two overseas Air Force wing staffs, and Senior Inspector General during the 2021 troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is a former Boys State participant himself, having attended Oklahoma Boys State himself in 1996. 

NOTE: A question has come up: When did Post 56 first begin sending students to Boys and Girls State? There is nothing in our records. If you can answer that question in the comments, I would be in your debt. — John McGarr Adjutant, Post 56