Rural ElectricYouth Tour

High school juniors will have a blast – and learn something in the process! Meet new people from across the state and across America! And best of all – IT’S FREE!

What is it?

The Youth Tours by Wiregrass Electric!

Wiregrass Electric realizes our future lies in our young people. For this reason, WEC sponsors Youth Tours each year – the Alabama Rural Electric Youth Tour to Montgomery and the NRECA Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, DC. By participating in these programs, students will become better citizens, informed voters and good Cooperative members -- just like WEC's 2010 Youth Tour to Washington students Alma Caffy from Florala and Marquez LeSane from Cottonwood.

These students will have the opportunity to:

• Increase their understanding of the value of rural electrification;
• Become more familiar with the historical and political environment of the nation’s capital through visits to monuments, government buildings and cooperative organizations; and
• Visit elected officials to increase their knowledge of how the federal government works.

Youth Tour to Montgomery

Wiregrass Electric sponsors several high school juniors to the Alabama Rural Electric Youth Tour to Montgomery each year for a three-day conference/tour in March. High school juniors who have one parent or guardian who is a member and receives electric service from Wiregrass Electric Cooperative are eligible to participate in the competition. Interested? Fill out an application and return by Jan. 15. Tours include the State Capitol, the Alabama Legislature, State Archives and Rosa Parks Museum. Pictured here are the 2009 Montgomery Youth Tour students with State Representative Warren Beck, 87th District, Houston/Geneva County: (L-R) Ben Marchman (Rehobeth), Tina Hall (Rehobeth), Krystin Tipton (Cottonwood), Katie Tharpe (Northside Methodist), Kristen Hayes (Cottonwood), Hayden Hatfield (Geneva County), Ian Kent (Northview), Rep. Warren Beck, Bill McElroy (Rehobeth), Katie Sorrells (Geneva County), Daniel Martin (Rehobeth) and Julie Scott (Slocomb).

Youth Tour to Washington, DC

From the Montgomery Youth Tour participants, two outstanding students are chosen to attend the NRECA Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, DC. Students are selected by interview to represent Wiregrass Electric with students from throughout Alabama for a week-long trip to our nation’s capitol. Special sites of interest include the Lincoln Monument, Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, and the House of Representatives. Students will meet with Alabama Legislators as they join almost 1,500 students from across the United States. Pictured here are:Tina Hall of Rehobeth and Kristen Hayes of Cottonwood, the two students selected to attend the Youth Tour to Washington in June 2009. Alternate is Ben Marchman of Rehobeth.

2010 Wiregrass Electric Youth Tour Brochure

2010 Wiregrass Electric Youth Tour Application

Alabama Rural Electric Youth Tour Website

Montgomery Youth Tour 2010 Photos

Washington Youth Tour 2010 Photos

Montgomery Youth Tour 2010 Press Release

Washington Youth Tour 2010 Press Release

National Youth Tour Website