Above: Youth Tour delegates from Missouri's third congressional district talk with U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer during a visit to his Capitol Hill office in 2019. Below left: Delegates rub a name off of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1992. Below right: Students from Missouri wave and laugh as they depart for a sunset cruise on the Potomac River during Youth Tour. Beth Knudson. " That allows genuineness to shine through in our delegates. " While in Washington, the delegates' schedule is full from morning to night. Activities might include exploring the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, watching the Presidents Race at a Washington Nationals game, visiting the many monuments of the area or relaxing on a sunset cruise on the Potomac River. One thing all delegates do is visit Capitol Hill and meet with their member of the House of Representatives. Lexi Jackson visited D.C. for the first time when she was sponsored by Branson-based White River Valley Electric Cooperative in 2015. " I saw government come to life on the trip, " the Washington University in St. Louis graduate says. " I felt like I was more a part of the process and could see my future as an active citizen and working in public policy and governance. If anything, it was a catalyst for us to become future leaders at a critical time in our lives. " Every cooperative that participates in Youth Tour seeks out local students to enter their contest. The contest varies 14 by co-op but most require an essay or speech on a cooperative or community issue or both. A group of outside judges is brought in and the winners are selected. The co-op then fully funds the once-in-a-lifetime trip to D.C. " Youth Tour is a great way to give high school students the opportunity to learn more about our co-op as well as see firsthand how government works, " says Tim Schmidt, youth tour coordinator for Troy-based Cuivre River Electric Cooperative. " These students are leaders in their schools and communities and we're committed to giving them opportunities to continue their growth. " Each year, one delegate from each state is selected while on the trip as the representative for the national Youth Leadership Council. That delegate's Youth Tour experience continues on after the trip is over. They return to D.C. later in the summer for more leadership training, travel to the NRECA Annual Meeting in the winter and have the opportunity to address the Missouri Youth Tour delegates the following year. Youth Tour took on a different role the past two years. RURAL MISSOURI | JUNE 2021 June21_Youth Tour.indd 3 5/6/21 10:20 AM