Powell High School senior Taylor Peters was selected to represent Wyoming at the American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation event held in Washington, D.C., in July. The weeklong event, founded in 1947, focuses on civic education and helps students develop leadership skills.

Peters is involved in numerous extracurricular activities including FFA, FCA, National Honors Society and Speech and Debate, but Girls Nation marks only the second opportunity Peters has been able to travel to Washington, D.C. Her first visit was a personal trip in January where she got to spend time at the museums along the National Mall.

Peters was joined by fellow Wyoming senior, Stella Vilos of Cheyenne, to represent Wyoming at this year’s event. The two delegates were selected to represent the state as mock senators following their participation in the state-level, ALA Girls State program.

At both events, “senators” participate in simulated sessions that include caucuses and bill discussions. Every state brings forth a bill to debate, with Peters and Vilos advocating for agricultural.

“I really wanted to take an ag-related bill because that’s what Wyoming is ultimately built on. We’re a community that’s very reliant on agriculture and that’s what I campaigned on,” Peters said. “When me and my co-senator were selected, we agreed that we were going to write an ag bill.”

The two developed a price transparency bill that was inspired by the current issues regarding a consolidation of the meat packing industry that the real beef industry is attempting to tackle.

The bill began in committee where it was discussed and passed to the floor for more discussion. The process emulated the real procedures of both state and federal politics with testimony being provided alongside affirmative and negative debate on both sides of the bill. Ultimately, the Wyoming sponsored bill was one of two bills to be passed by the mock session unanimously.

“That was a really cool experience, especially with it being an ag bill and a very Wyoming centric issue that’s not very mainstream,” Peters said. “It was a very empowering experience.”

The event ran concurrently with the Legion Auxiliary’s male student civic engagement program, Boys Nation. That event also featured two Wyoming seniors who traveled alongside Peters and Vilos, Austin Vondra of Casper and Paxton Stevens of Riverton.

Peters said her favorite experience was the visit they made to the Capitol where she and the other Wyoming participants were able to meet with Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, the Senate Majority Whip.

“It was also really cool getting to go into his office and seeing some of the restricted areas where you’re seeing all of these really famous senators and congressmen was an incredible opportunity,” Peters said.

After coming home, Peters reflected on the need for unity in today’s political climate and the importance of working together for the common good, even if it is just a student event.

“Being able to come together and pass what we thought was good and fail what we thought was bad while also listening to the opposing side was just so inspiring,” Peters said. “Being able to go there and be united by wanting to do good was a totally different perspective and really was truly inspiring to just be a young girl from Wyoming and see all these other amazing girls also come together with the same idea as me.”

For more information, go to legion-aux.org/ala-girls-nation.