Badger Boys State adopted a program based upon the experience of the Illinois Boys State which was sponsored by the Illinois American Legion and had been in operation since 1935. Four hundred eighty-four high school juniors attended the first session of Badger Boys State at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, June 16–23, 1939. The project proved very successful and was unanimously authorized to proceed as a state program by the Wisconsin American Legion Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The individuals responsible for founding the Badger Boys State program officially on April 8, 1939 were: Due to the limited capacity of St. John's
Brad Badger he earned honorable mention All-State honors, catching 18 passes for 252 yards and a score. Badger also lettered in baseball and basketball. He was named honorable mention All-State in basketball as a junior and first team All-State in his senior year at center. At Stanford University, Badger was converted from a tight end into an offensive lineman. He was a three-year starter for the Cardinal, starting 34 of 35 games dating back to his sophomore year. As a senior, he was named to the All Pac-10 first-team. Badger was drafted in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL Draft by