How well do you "Know Your State?"

Mason Schuster of New Rockford and Jacob Rexin of Carrington, both students at Carrington High School, competed in the 2021 Know Your State Competition last week. The pair tested for the competition in late March. Schuster received first place in the local contest and both scored high enough to qualify for the state finals held at Bismarck State College on April 26.

This was the 63rd year that the North Dakota Masonic Foundation has held this event, which was started to encourage North Dakota students to gain a greater interest in the state's history. North Dakota has a rich past, steeped in political activism, agricultural production, military service and Native American culture.

The local round of the competition is completed through an online test, and students in grades 11 and 12 are eligible to compete. The results are then tabulated and finalists selected for the state finals.

Schuster and fellow Carrington student, Jacob Rexin, were among the fewer than 70 students who qualified to compete at the state contest this year. The state test includes multiple choice, short answer and essay questions. The eight students with the highest scores were recognized and received cash prizes. While neither Schuster nor Rexin were among them, they were presented as finalists and took home flowers, a certificate, the book "Mornings on Horseback," a Theodore Roosevelt biography written by David McCullough, as well as a special medallion commemorating their participation at the state finals.

The Guest Keynote Speaker at this year's contest was Brigadier General Jackie Huber of the North Dakota National Guard. She was named deputy adjutant general to the Guard in 2019, the first female to hold the position. Huber is a well-decorated service member, who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom.