Approximately 120 students from schools across Moniteau County spent Wednesday in California learning about how county government works.
The group gathered at First Baptist Church to hear from county officials on what happens in their jobs before heading to the courthouse for a tour of county offices.
Organizer Jeanne Edwards started the day by asking the students when they thought "The Star Spangled Banner" was written, giving them a choice of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 or the Civil War - the correct answer being the War of 1812.
"The country didn't actually adopt the song as our national anthem until 1931," she added. "I know we see singers at events singing the anthem, but I think it should be a participation sport with everyone singing."
The students were juniors from California and Tipton high schools and sophomores from Jamestown.
Before hearing from county officials, the group was given a demonstration by members of the American Legion on the proper way to fold a flag, which Jamestown sixth-grade students do through the school year.
The National American Legion established County Government Day in 1950, and it was adopted in Missouri in 1954. It's the fourth year the program has been held in Moniteau County.
"It's very rare you have contact with federal or state government, but when you want to apply for a marriage license or pay your taxes you're dealing with county government, so you have more contact with them than almost any other level of government," Edwards said.
Presiding Commissioner Kenneth Kunze told students he never thought he would end up being in county government for 14 years.
"Hopefully some of you will be around to be involved in government to take care of us old people in the future," Kunze joked. "We are one of nine county commissions that work five days a week, and we're proud of that. We're there to do a job, so if people have a complaint we can be there to answer the phone and try to get things worked out."
Associate Circuit Judge Peggy Richardson said she was "one of the lucky ones" who knew what she wanted to do in fifth grade when she decided she wanted to be a lawyer.
"Its a sweet gig," she told the students.
Richardson, who has been in office for 18 years, told students that of the more than 1,800 cases she sees annually, 40 percent of her time is spent on domestic cases.
"It's a lot like writing a term paper," she said, "You have to spend a day listening to the case in court and spend another day writing up the judgment."
Since most of the students at the event have a driver's license, Richardson explained that they should work to avoid getting tickets so they don't get points on their licenses. She handles many traffic cases and told the students if they get too many points it's possible she could take away their license.
"Do we have anyone here that thinks they'd like to be a lawyer or a judge?" Richardson asked. When no one raised a hand, she replied,"Well, it looks like I've got my job for a while longer."