Youth & Government Conferences

State Conference
The State Conference is the culmination of the Youth & Government experience and provides students from across the state to engage with others, make new friends, debate ideas and find their voice. Held in February each year, this three-day conference offers students the opportunity to run the Oklahoma State Capitol.

• Judicial: Court sessions are held across various courtroom locations in the downtown Oklahoma City area. OK YAG Student Judges preside over all courtrooms.
• Media: Media students will have a home base located in the OK Capitol, and delegates will be assigned to different bureaus conducting media coverage for our conference, from podcasts, social media, articles and more.
• Lobbyist: Delegates home base in the OK Capitol building, working to persuade Legislative delegates one-on-one to vote according to their specific interest groups

All students, advisors and volunteers stay at a hotel in downtown Oklahoma City and participate in banquets, trainings and social events.

Conference on National Affairs (CONA)
CONA is a national YMCA conference, held in Black Mountain, NC, that brings together students from across the nation to discuss proposals for national and international significance. Each state is permitted to bring 25 students to CONA. Adult leadership selects the students who will attend CONA based on application review, teacher nomination, performance at State Conference, leadership abilities and group dynamics. Students chosen for CONA are expected to participate in all CONA prep meetings, meet all deadlines and take a leadership role in YAG the following school year.

National Judicial Competition (NJC)
NJC is a national YMCA Conference held every summer. Currently being held in Austin, TX, NJC is a competition-based conference for student participants in the model judicial components of Appellate Court & Mock Trial. Oklahoma is permitted to take up to 32 delegates. Appellate teams consist of two students, while Mock teams have five to eight students. Students are chosen by State Conference scores. Students chosen for NJC are expected to participate in all NJC prep meetings and meet all deadlines.