In June, 26 high school students from across Nebraska joined more than a thousand of their peers from across the U.S. for the 2026 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.—an immersive week that brought American history, government, and leadership to life.
    Sponsored by Nebraska’s rural public power districts and electric cooperatives, the students and their two chaperones explored some of the nation's most iconic landmarks, including the Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington Memorials. Their itinerary also took them to Capitol Hill, where they met with U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts to discuss current issues and experience government in action.
    Beyond the monuments, the delegation discovered powerful exhibits in the Smithsonian Museums—from the Hope Diamond to the groundbreaking Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer. They walked the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, stood in George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, and took in the deeply moving exhibits at the National Holocaust Museum.
    “Our rural electric utilities are an important part of the communities they serve,” said James Dukesherer, NREA Director of Government Relations and Youth Tour Director. “They invest much more than time and energy in the next generation. They invest in opportunities that help young people grow, learn and become leaders. Programs like Youth Tour give students the chance to learn about their communities, experience new places and cultures, and gain knowledge that can shape their future.”
    The Youth Tour is more than a trip—it’s a transformative experience. It connects students with the past, inspires their future, and builds friendships with fellow young leaders from across the country.
    Some Youth Tour alumni can earn college scholarships through the Glen English Scholarship Foundation, while others are selected to participate in a Youth Leadership Council program. 
    The idea for the Youth Tour was sparked in 1957, when then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson addressed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and urged electric cooperatives to send young people to Washington to experience their democracy firsthand. “If one thing comes out of this meeting,” Johnson said, “it will be sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”