Tuesday, October 06, 2026
Applications for the 2027 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour are open until Jan. 15, giving local high school juniors the opportunity to apply for an unforgettable trip to Washington, D.C.
Each year, Ozarks Electric sponsors students from its service territory to participate in Youth Tour, a nationwide program that brings together young leaders from electric cooperatives across the country. During the weeklong trip, delegates explore the nation’s capital, learn about government and the cooperative mission, develop leadership skills and build friendships with students from Arkansas, Oklahoma and beyond.
For past delegates, Youth Tour has been an opportunity to experience places they’ve learned about in the classroom while stepping outside their comfort zones and making lasting connections.
“I will never forget the first night on Youth Tour, walking around and seeing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and Thomas Jefferson Memorial, already making connections with friends I will have forever,” said Brayden Duncan, a 2026 Youth Tour delegate from Westville High School.
Addison Gardner, a 2026 delegate from Prairie Grove High School, encourages students considering Youth Tour to take the chance and apply.
“My biggest piece of advice is to apply even if you’re unsure,” Gardner said. “I almost let the fear of not being chosen keep me from applying, but I am so glad I took the chance.”
Current high school juniors can apply to represent Ozarks Electric on the June 2027 Youth Tour here.