Story and photos provided by Ste. Genevieve County School District R-II
STE. GENEVIEVE – Ste. Genevieve High School students and community members holding local political offices gathered on April 13, for County Government Day, an educational event designed to provide insight into the structure and responsibilities of local government. The event offered a hands-on opportunity to better understand the roles that keep county operations running and serving residents each day.
Students from Ste. Genevieve High School joined their peers from Valle Catholic High School for the annual event, spending the morning shadowing local officials to learn more about the day-to-day work of county government. Through direct interaction with public servants, students saw firsthand how decisions are made and how services are delivered across the community.
Throughout the day, students participated in a variety of activities, including shadowing county officials, taking part in a mock trial and touring the county jail. These experiences helped bring classroom concepts to life, offering a clearer picture of how local government functions in real-world settings.
The following SGHS students explored and engaged with the following county offices:
- Presiding Commissioner — Justin Slinkard
- Associate Commissioner, 1st District — Alexander Basler
- Associate Commissioner, 2nd District — Vivian Kiefer
- County Clerk — Allison Loudenback
- Associate Circuit Judge — Alivia Bays
- Circuit Clerk — Cecilia Mooney
- Public Administrator — Abby Woodard
- Sheriff — Tristian Keith
- Coroner — Lilah Oberreiter
- Assessor — Eli Bennett
- Collector — Kyrah Kreitler
- Treasurer — Luke Ferranto
- Prosecuting Attorney — Ragan Picou and Sophie Garcia
- Recorder of Deeds — Brenden Sexton
- Juvenile Officer — Olivia Kirchner
- Surveyor — Lily Kohler
SGHS students expressed their appreciation to the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Department and all participating county officials for their continued support in organizing the event!
By the end of the day, students left with a stronger understanding of how local government operates and the important role it plays in everyday life, along with a deeper appreciation for civic engagement and public service.