As about 450 girls converge on Lawrence this week for Sunflower Girls State, several area boys have been in Manhattan for Kansas Boys State.

About 650 boys who recently completed their junior year are participating in Boys State, which began Sunday and runs through Saturday at Kansas State University. The annual event is sponsored by the American Legion.

Lawrence participants and their offices include Jonathan Affalter, the Department of Wildlife and Parks; Seth Alford, representative; Anthony Bradburn, city official; Patrick Palmer, senator; Doug Raney, senator; Seth Readinger, the Association of Farmers; Ryan Schneider, the Association of Boys State Cities and Counties; Greg Scholtz, representative; and Brandon Womack, city official.

Participants from Baldwin are Michael Moore, county commissioner; Daniel Musgrave, the Department of Environment; and Brent Schultz, newspaper staff member.

Randy Hogue, Tonganoxie, is an official with the Association for the Advancement of Minorities. Brad Wilson, Eudora, is a senator.