Sponsored by Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine

Official Contest Rules

Our 2024 Youth Tour Essay Contest is open to any Iowa high school sophomore, junior or senior whose family is served by an Iowa electric cooperative AND to any Iowa high school sophomore, junior or senior who attended all three virtual sessions of the Iowa Youth Leadership Academy in Oct. 2023. Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine will award one all-expenses-paid Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C., in addition to the Youth Tour trips sponsored by local electric cooperatives.

If a student is eligible, they should apply for Youth Tour through their local electric cooperative first. Then, to enhance their chances of earning a trip, we encourage them to also enter our essay contest. Note: If you’re chosen as a Youth Tour winner through your local electric cooperative, you’ll become ineligible to win a trip to Youth Tour sponsored by Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine. 

Entries must be received by March 25, 2024. Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine and IAEC staff will judge all essays anonymously. The decision of the judges will be final. The winner of the Iowa Electric Cooperative Living Youth Tour Contest will not be announced until April 4, 2024, which is after all sponsoring local electric cooperatives will have chosen their 2024 Youth Tour participants.

To enter, you will be required to submit an official entry form plus a short essay (250 words or less) in response to this statement: Tell us about an issue that impacts the quality of life in your community. 

2024 Youth Tour dates: 
Orientation: Evening of June 15 (Des Moines)
Leave for DC: Early June 16 (Des Moines International Airport)
Arrive back in Iowa: June 21 (Des Moines International Airport)

Questions? Contact youthtour@iowarec.org