Youth Tour was established with one thought in mind — to inspire our next generation of leaders. Since 1964, more than 50,000 young Americans have taken advantage of this special opportunity offered by their electric cooperatives.
It all takes place in June, when hundreds of electric coops across the country send participants to Washington, D.C., for a chance to learn about the cooperative business model, experience the nation’s capital, and participate in leadership development aimed at cooperative youth, who primarily come to the experience from rural communities.
“I’m a farmer, so this opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., and see the places I had read about like the Library of Congress was a life-changing experience for me,” says Mackenzie Henry, a Ross County student at Ohio Connections Academy. “I am really grateful to South Central Power for giving me the opportunity to go.”
Kyle Heavrin, South Central Power’s vice president of member service, has witnessed Youth Tour’s benefits. “I had the privilege of helping lead the Youth Tour groups for a couple of years and observed students come together and become lifelong friends and even future college roommates,” Heavrin says. “We encourage high school juniors in our service area to look at this wonderful opportunity to develop additional leadership skills, meet congressional leaders, and tour historical sites. Stay tuned for details on the application period for the 2024 Youth Tour, which is expected to be available on our website early next year.”
Dylan Catte of Canal Winchester, a student at Bloom-Carroll High School, also attended Youth Tour in June, and said the experience was one he will never forget. “Youth Tour was a fantastic opportunity for me – I got outside of my comfort zone and met new people from across the state and nation.” Catte also said he appreciated the chance to learn more about the role electric cooperatives play in his community, and others across the globe. “Growing up in a rural area, it’s likely you’ll be part of a cooperative in the future, and so it was treat to learn more about how they function and work together to make life better for everyone.”
Want to know more? Visit our Youth Tour page.
From the September 2023 issue of Ohio Cooperative Living.