Local Students Travel to Washington, D.C. for Youth Tour
Thirty-three teens representing 19 South Dakota electric cooperatives traveled to the Washington, D.C., area in late June for the 2026 South Dakota Youth Tour.
Central Electric Cooperative’s Youth Tour representatives were Howard High School student Ann Connor, daughter of Michal and Rebecca Connor; White Lake High School student Alexis Moore, daughter of Clint and Rebecca Moore; Kimball High School student Delilah Rasmussen, daughter of Tony and Rebecca Rasmussen; and Wessington Springs High School student Alexis Roesler, daughter of Aaron and Alicia Roesler.
The annual trip, coordinated by the South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), provides students with a deeper understanding of history, civic engagement and the role of electric cooperatives in their communities. Approximately 1,350 South Dakota students have participated in the Youth Tour since the program began in the 1963.
The group toured many of the nation’s most treasured landmarks, including several presidential and war memorials. Students also visited the U.S. Capitol Building, U.S. Supreme Court, Arlington National Cemetery, National Archives and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where much of the nation’s paper currency is produced.
While in Washington, students met with U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds. They also had the opportunity to connect with Youth Tour delegates from 44 other states. The group attended Youth Day at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, where keynote speaker Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist in U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball, shared a message about perseverance and leadership.
High school juniors in Central Electric’s footprint can apply for the next Youth Tour trip in November. For more information, visit www.centralec.coop and click on Member Programs.