In a co-op tradition that has been going strong since the late 1950s, more than 1,600 students from 44 states descended upon Washington, D.C., June 16-21 for Youth Tour. These students are co-op members from around the country who were selected to represent their cooperatives in the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association’s (NRECA) flagship youth engagement program.

CHELCO was proud to have four representatives, or “delegates” as we refer to them, in our nation’s capital for Youth Tour: Jack Beauchamp (Niceville H.S.), Emery Hagan (Paxton School), Asher Kimbrough (Crestview H.S.) and Jonas Mosley (Rocky Bayou Christian School).

These four students received the highest scores in a video contest as reviewed and ranked by three impartial judges not affiliated with CHELCO, but familiar with the Youth Tour program.

While the group visited several historic sites, the Youth Tour is more than just a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. Students get to meet with elected officials, learn the history and importance of America’s electric cooperatives, and make lifelong friends and memories.

For those interested in participating in Youth Tour, applications are sent to guidance counselors in November each year and are available at CHELCO.com. To participate, students must be high school juniors, and their parents must be members of CHELCO.

Learn more by visiting our website at CHELCO.com/youth-tour.