Youth Tour opens minds and builds leaders

Every June, a select group of high school students from across Illinois leave their rural communities to spend a week taking in the historic sights and bustling energy of the nation’s capital.

This year, 48 students sponsored by 25 Illinois electric and telephone cooperatives took part in the 2025 Youth Tour to visit Washington, D.C., held June 16 to 23, for an immersive weeklong experience designed to educate and inspire the next generation of cooperative and civic leaders.

JCE Co-op sponsored two students within its service territory. These students included Lex Abt and Hazel Harris. They joined more than 2,000 students representing 44 states for the annual event.

“This trip is so much more than sightseeing,” said Taylor Smith, member and youth engagement coordinator at JCE Co-op. “It’s about building relationships, learning leadership and showing that they have the power to shape their communities and futures.”

Learning by doing

Central to the Youth Tour experience is the formation of a mock student-run cooperative called Chip ’n’ Pop Co-op. Students began their journey at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) headquartered in Springfield, where the students selected a co-op board. The board later interviewed and selected a co-op manager.

Throughout the week, the co-op handled snack sales, decision-making and budgeting — giving participants a hands-on look at how cooperatives operate. Both Abt and Harris served on the board of directors.

“Being on the board of directors taught me what a co-op is all about through first-hand experience,” Harris said. “I’ve become so much more appreciative of everything that JCE Co-op is doing for me.”

“Being part of a co-op helps students understand what makes a co-op different,” said Smith. “It’s all about working together and making decisions that serve everyone — not just one person or company.”

A full week of history

Over the course of the week, students visited historic landmarks including Gettysburg, Arlington National Cemetery and, for the first time in many years, had the opportunity to tour the White House, where the students caught a glimpse of President Donald Trump. They also toured the U.S. Capitol, strolled the National Mall, stood at the steps of the Supreme Court and explored the Smithsonian museums.

Midweek, students took part in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Day, where they joined hundreds of other teens from across the country to hear from national leaders and learn how to use their voices back home.

From sobering visits to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial to moments of laughter at the Museum of Illusions and team-building at Beat the Bomb, the Youth Tour experience was unforgettable.

“I’d say my favorite part of the trip was going to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,” Abt said. “I liked really educating myself on everything that happened there, because I didn’t know the in-depth history of it.”

A trip that lasts a lifetime

An important component to the trip — the students voted for one of their peers to represent Illinois on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC). Those interested in becoming Illinois’ YLC representative filled out an application, and five were selected to give a speech in front of their peers.

Adams Telephone Co-Operative’s Micah Anderson was selected as the 2025-2026 YLC representative for Illinois. He will represent the state at national and state meetings and events in the year ahead.

The week concluded with a farewell dinner and dance, and by the time students returned home on June 23, many said they felt changed by the experience.

“I would like to give the hugest thank you to my co-op for sending me to D.C.,” Harris said. “They gave me the opportunity to look into the past of our country, and now I can’t wait to help build the future.”

High school students who live within the service area of JCE Co-op are eligible to participate in the annual program. To learn more about Youth Tour, go to youthtour.coop or facebook.com/ILYouthTour.