July 14th, 2021 by Rebecca Miller, Communications Specialist
Seventy high school students participated in Missouri's 58th annual Missouri Electric Youth Tour, June 16-18. Local delegates were (from left): Trace Ackley of Cairo, Carley Hunsaker of Cairo, Sophia Burks of Macon, and Jadyn Cole of Bevier.
While the traditional seven-day tour to Washington D.C. was unable to happen because of lingering COVID-19 concerns, that didn’t stop Missouri’s electric cooperatives from providing local students with a great opportunity. The 2021 delegates took part in a three-day conference, which offered them opportunities to learn firsthand what it is like to be involved in politics, serve in leadership positions, ways to serve their community and more.
“The Youth Tour is the highlight of the summer for many students no matter the format and we’re proud to have the best and brightest become a part of our Youth Tour family,” said Chris Massman, Vice President of Member Services for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Highlights included the youth participating virtually with representatives from their congressional districts and taking online tours of famous monuments. The group also heard from past Youth Tour delegates, one of which is now a member of the United States Secret Service. These alumni spoke to them about their Youth Tour experiences and how the opportunity helped shape their future college and career choices.
Other events included participation in electrical related activities, which included the students making their own extension cords. This presentation was led by Keith Mueller, who is a former Youth Tour delegate and now an employee of a Missouri electric cooperative. The students also heard from representatives from State Technical College, Western Governors University (WGU) and the University of Missouri.
The conference wrapped up with a motivational speaker. Students heard from Dan Meers, who entertains people and speaks to them about the power of positivity. Dan is the man in the KC Wolf mascot costume at all Kansas City Chiefs games and when he’s not entertaining 40,000 on gameday, he is traveling the country speaking to groups and telling his story.
Since 1964, the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have sponsored more than 50,000 high school juniors and seniors to partake in the Youth Tour. For more information about the Youth Tour program, please go to https://www.maconelectric.com/youth-tour.