Montana’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour 2026
EDITOR’S NOTE: Each year electric cooperatives throughout the state send incoming high school juniors and seniors on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a week to learn more about the history of the United States and electric cooperatives.
They visit monuments and museums, meet other electric cooperative youth from across the country and get to ask questions of the state’s congressional delegation.
Here is how this year’s trip impacted participants, in their own words.
I made so many friends on Youth Tour
By Reata Walden | McCone Electric
When I stood in front of the hotel in Great Falls just before the Youth Tour meeting, I thought to myself, “That has to be the biggest hotel I’ve ever stayed in.”
Two days later, that record was broken.
I never thought I would go on a trip to a place I’d never been, be with people I’d never seen, traveling cross-country with 34 people I’d met only hours before. Who knew it would only take a week before those strangers became my friends?
In the beginning, I was terrified of being that lonely wallflower that nobody knew the name of and the chaperones forgot to count during roll call. I was soon proven wrong.
I’ve never met such a personable and sociable bunch of teenagers. The ones I know are usually too focused on being “cool” to make much of a connection. Somehow, Montana’s electric co-ops managed to handpick the brightest and best delegates possible. By the end of the first day, I had been part of many conversations, introduced myself to everyone, and became a part of our little Montana community within the big city of Washington, D.C. By the end of that trip, we were laughing, touring, taking pictures and chatting together like we had been friends since kindergarten.
In addition, our chaperones were wonderful and always made sure we had what we needed, when and where we needed it. And last, but not least, our bus driver was amazing! We were never late anywhere, even in the big city traffic.
I would like to give a warm thank you to everyone who made this trip possible for me and for all of my newfound friends.
My journey with the Montana electric cooperative Youth Tour was an experience I will not soon forget.
From nerves to creating connections
By Josie Crabb | Missoula Electric
Leading up to the moment when I stepped into the large ballroom filled with people I had never seen before, I was jittery with nerves. Orientation night was a gathering for Youth Tour participants and their families to feel welcomed and learn all about the busy week ahead.
I walked around the room, trying to find the table with my name on it. Only one girl was sitting there at the time, but she broke the awkward silence right away by making a joke and introducing herself. As I took my seat, I was still a little anxious, unsure of how I would interact with the other participants and the upcoming adventurous days in Washington, D.C. After enjoying a taco bar dinner and visiting with other families, the parents left. It was up to the delegates to engage with one another. This is when I met my roommate, with whom I would be spending seven nights.
Alivia and I connected almost immediately, relating to one another through our small-town communities and hobbies. Unfortunately, we were not paired up on the plane ride to D.C., but we had opportunities for small talk along the way. After arriving at our hotel and scarfing down Chipotle, we were two peas in a pod for the rest of the week. Monday night, our group attended a Washington Nationals Baseball Game, where we sat with co-op participants from North Dakota and Alabama. Many youth participants surrounded us, excited to trade their state pins for our popular Montana one. Trading pins to hook to our travel bags was a great way to interact with other states and build excitement everywhere we went. Little did we know that on the upcoming day, we would be involved in a special ceremony honoring those who served our country.
While we were walking around in awe of the Air Force Memorial, a group of men and women unloaded from a bus and propped themselves on some seating blocks. Montana Youth Tour delegates huddled around each other, intrigued by what was about to happen. We soon learned that these individuals were part of a Kansas Honor Flight group and were brought to D.C. for a Spirit Flight Ceremony. After a few minutes of standing and listening to one of their leaders talk, we were invited to join them. As we sat among the men and women, we listened to a long list of names of fallen heroes as well as those unable to make the trip. An older gentleman concluded the ceremony with the playing of Taps. We walked around expressing gratitude face-to-face. There were many happy tears, and I will never forget the sparkle in their eyes. They were so grateful for the Montana Youth Tour group, and the love we showed them.
The experience with the veterans left a lasting impression on me, but the friendships I built with other students showed me another side of making connections. A favorite memory from this trip was when my Montana group and three other states went on a boat cruise and had dinner and a dance. It was a special moment because everyone was hyped to be there, and welcomed anyone they saw on the dance floor.
At first, Alivia and I stood in the corner, dancing in our own goofy ways, but a few moments later, we were grabbed by a large group of people and thrown into the dance circle. It was very cool to see boys and girls from different states bonding and having a great time, even though we had never met. The following night, our co-op group attended the NRECA Youth Event, where more than 1,700 kids from across the country were seated. The inspirational speakers had amazing stories and great life lessons that I will forever remember. I learned about each state’s electric co-ops and the people who dedicate themselves to making sure communities have reliable electricity, along with the ways they benefit many communities.
The final NRECA event the Montana group attended was another dinner and dance, but this time with representatives from every state. We all piled into a very large room and enjoyed a meal with some of our group, along with others who wanted to get to know us. After scarfing down the delicious meal, Alivia and I ran onto the dance floor and once again were swept away by other co-op youth participants. We danced for hours, and when it was time to go, 1,700 kids who had become attached to each other all screamed, “One more song!”, not wanting the night to end.
The connections I made on the Montana Youth Tour were incredible. I never imagined I’d be traveling many miles away from home with people I had just met, while experiencing breathtaking monuments, museums and friendships. Looking back, the monuments and museums were unforgettable, but the connections I made had the biggest impact. I nervously boarded a plane full of strangers traveling to Washington, D.C., but returned home with lifelong memories, friendships and a greater appreciation for the people who serve our country and the communities that bring us together.
This is what made the Montana Youth Tour truly unforgettable.
Learning the cost of freedom
By Elisabeth Freiss | Flathead Electric
Our nation is at a crossroads each and every day. The old cliche is true that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Being in Washington, D.C, for the first time really helped me understand this fact on a deeper level.
The most important impression I was left with, and I hope and pray every person comes to realize, is the price of freedom. So often we prioritize comfort and complain when we don’t receive it quick enough, while we cannot or choose not to comprehend the bloody, tear-ridden trail that has been blazed before us to allow us the right to continue walking. The price of freedom is too high for language to express, and certainly monuments only cover a glimpse of the true impact.
We need to understand that brave men and women sacrificed their very essence to preserve the next generation. They sustained mental, physical and spiritual toil that is often brutally overlooked, especially by the younger generation. We enjoy the fruits of their labor.
I remember the most impactful statement that was spoken to me this trip after I thanked a man for his service: “we did it for you”. It caught me a bit off guard. It was uttered by a veteran who had served in Vietnam, and had seen many friends sacrifice their lives for our country. Those who survived never received a welcome home, and many felt shamed and doubted. Had the cost been worth it?
This statement resonated with me because of how personal it was; this is not just coming face to face with history or some lecture. This man was one of many, many souls who chose to plant seeds that they hoped someone else would water.
I believe it should resonate in the very core of every citizen in this nation as a voice for those who have served us, as we are the future. It presents a legacy that we would not exist without. Since the founding, our nation has been forged by blood, sweat and tears, and by the grace of God we must never let America go. Not only is our nation worth preserving, but it needs to be celebrated as the City on a Hill that it is.
We must make a choice in the way we use our freedom every day, for good or for evil: Will we let the cost of freedom be forgotten?
Simply submitting an essay changed my life
By Sicily Scalese | Fergus Electric
The moments that change our lives are not always monumental events. For me, it was the simple task of submitting an essay.
From that point, stemmed thousands of unforgettable experiences in the heart of our nation — Washington, D.C. While it may seem dramatic, Youth Tour changed my life. While in Washington, D.C., I stepped so far out of my comfort zone that I barely recognized myself. But the new me was brave and confident, humbled by the actions our predecessors had made in the name of the beautiful United States of America. Anyone who walks among the rows of pearly white gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery or gazes upon the green fields of the Gettysburg battlefield can’t help but witness the sacrifices of our brave men and women.
That girl was me, just a better version — a person who I admired greatly. I went through this metamorphosis all because I decided to put aside my fears and apply to Youth Tour. While the sites of Washington, D.C., were truly something to behold, the people I met were just as incredible. I have never been in an environment that was invested in the same things I wanted before, and it was inspiring. The connections I made with my fellow Montanans, and even people from other states, were some of my favorite parts of the trip.
Whether it was the places or people that helped me grow the most, I know that I emerged from Youth Tour as a different person. I gained lasting friendships, confidence, and the courage to speak out and let my voice be heard. While some may think only big moments can spark so much change, I know that sometimes the smallest actions can change a life forever.