A summer tradition returned with the 2026 Youth Tour, an annual event sponsored by the nation’s electric and telephone cooperatives. This year’s event, held June 15-22, hosted more than 2,000 high school students from 44 states in Washington, D.C. Illinois sent 50 students.
“The goal of [Youth Tour] is to attract, build and retain the next generation of cooperative leaders through sustained engagement,” said NRECA Youth Programs Manager Cale McCall.
During Youth Day on June 18, delegates heard from several speakers: NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, NRECA President Mike Partin, Youth Leadership Council spokesperson Brynn Lee Hirata and motivational speaker Mike Schlappi, a wheelchair basketball player who appeared in four consecutive summer Paralympic Games.
This year’s Youth Day program included a larger focus on how delegates can leverage the experience later in life, whether they go on to post-secondary education or enter the workforce. Delegates heard from past participants who work on Capitol Hill, a co-op communicator and Youth Leadership Council alumni.
“We wanted to showcase how Youth Tour can be the starting point of a delegate’s professional journey,” McCall said. “And more importantly, how co-ops support a wide range of careers.”
NRECA is continuing to partner with co-ops across the country to provide new resources for engaging younger members and encouraging participation in its suite of youth programs.
At press time, Youth Tour was underway. Additional photos, highlights and coverage will appear in the August 2026 issue of Illinois Country Living.
