Daugaard: ‘Lead those who look to you for leadership’

By Adeline Smidt

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard encouraged Girls State delegates Friday morning to get involved in the government and dream big.

“We need you to be our leaders in the future,” Daugaard said at Aalfs  Auditorium.

Daugaard attended Boys State when he was in high school. He talked about the way Girls State engages its citizens in the political process during his visit to Girls State.

He said Girls State couldn’t always mirror reality. In real life, he said some people don’t vote or even register to vote. Engaging in government can be inconvenient, he added.

Daugaard urged delegates, however, to be active in their communities.  He added that if the majority of citizens avoid government positions, selfish people would fill those positions.

“Please lead those who look to you for leadership,” he said.

Celie Jones, Detroit, said she liked that Daugaard encouraged delegates not just to be involved, but also to be leaders.

Daugaard said he believes leaders are important because they present proposals on big issues.  They bring ideas forth to solve problems, but are willing to amend those ideas, he said.

Daugaard also told delegates to “Dream big.”

To illustrate his point, he told the story of the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, where the arch of the Eiffel Tower served as the entrance of the fair.

When the 1893 World’s Fair was to be held in Chicago, Engineer George Ferris wanted to outdo the French by building a huge wheel on which people could ride in cars.

His original plans were rebuffed several times, but Ferris persisted and was eventually allowed to construct the project.  His ferris wheel debuted at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Amanda Johnson, Miami, said it was about “just going for it — don’t hold back.”