38 Iowa students travel to D.C. for once-in-a-lifetime trip

38 high school students, sponsored by Iowa’s locally owned electric cooperatives, traveled to Washington, D.C., from June 17-23 for the 2023 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The Iowa students joined with hundreds of other student leaders from across the nation to learn more about cooperatives, American history and government. Iowa’s electric cooperatives were the first ones to send students to Washington, D.C., 65 years ago in 1958; over the decades, hundreds of Iowa student leaders have gained perspective about their role as an American citizen through this program.

“Youth Tour is a major highlight for many students, and we’re proud to send 38 of Iowa’s best and brightest to our nation’s capital this year to participate,” said Shelly York, Youth Tour coordinator at the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “These students gained a first-hand understanding of the legislative process and made connections with other student leaders from across the country that will last a lifetime.” 

Students who attended Youth Tour participated in leadership training, engaged in one-on-one conversations with elected officials, jumpstarted their national peer network, learned about electric cooperatives, and toured the monuments and museums in our nation’s capital. Read more about the 2023 trip in the August issue of Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine. 

Students are selected for Youth Tour by their local electric cooperative early each year. For more information, visit www.IowaYouthTour.com. 

For More Information:

Erin Campbell, IAEC Director of Communications
ecampbell@iowarec.org