Post cards from Youth Tour

Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C., inspires next generation of co-op leaders

Every June, a new group of Oklahoma students packs their bags and heads to Washington, D.C., for the trip of a lifetime — Youth Tour. Sponsored by their local rural electric cooperatives, these students are chosen for their leadership, academic success and service to their communities. Each cooperative has its own unique way of selecting delegates, but the goal is the same: to send young leaders who represent the heart of rural Oklahoma.

Youth Tour isn’t your average summer trip. It’s a fast-paced, unforgettable week that gives students a front-row seat to American history and democracy. From standing beneath the towering Lincoln Memorial to meeting face-to-face with their congressional representatives, students experience the past, present and future of our nation in real time.

More than 1,500 students from electric cooperatives across the country take part in the tour each year. What started in the late 1950s as a way to show students how government works has grown into something even bigger. Along the way, delegates build friendships that last well beyond the week and gain new perspectives on the world and their place in it.

In the pages ahead, you’ll see just a glimpse of what makes Youth Tour so powerful — early mornings, busy days and plenty of smiles. For this group of students, Youth Tour 2025 was more than a trip. It was a beginning of a bright future.

Student Snapshot

Readers chose Zada Baker, Youth Tour delegate from Harmon Electric Co-op, as their favorite delegate photo from the trip. Zada says the photo is “A pink rose blooming at Robert E. Lee’s home in Arlington — a quiet reminder that even history grows something beautiful.”

Congratulations, Zada!