Youth Tour opens minds and builds leaders-local students represent Adams Electric and Adams Telephone in D.C.

Every June, a select group of high school students from across Illinois leave their rural communities to spend a week taking in the historic sights and bustling energy of the nation’s capital.

This year 48 students, sponsored by 25 Illinois electric and telephone cooperatives, took part in the 2025 Youth Tour to visit Washington, D.C., held June 16-23 for an immersive week-long experience designed to educate and inspire the next generation of cooperative and civic leaders.

Adams Electric Cooperative sponsored Kodi Duke and Jamen Tchapda and Adams Telephone Co-Operative sponsored Micah Anderson and Abigail Hildebrand to go on the trip. The students joined more than 2,000 students representing 44 states for the annual event.

“This trip is so much more than sightseeing,” said Danielle Flesner, graphic designer and youth tour coordinator for Adams Telephone Co-Operative, in a press release. “It’s about building relationships, learning leadership and showing that they have the power to shape their communities and futures.”

Central to the Youth Tour experience is the formation of a mock student-run cooperative called Chip ’n’ Pop Co-op. Students began their journey at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) headquartered in Springfield, where the students selected a co-op board. The board later interviewed and selected a co-op manager.

Throughout the week, the co-op handled snack sales, decision-making and budgeting — giving participants a hands-on look at how cooperatives operate. Adams Electric’s Duke served as a board member and Tchapda served as board president.

“Being part of a co-op helps students understand what makes a co-op different,” said Laura Bergman, manager of communications for Adams Electric Cooperative. “It’s all about working together and making decisions that serve everyone — not just one person or company.”

Over the course of the week, students visited historic landmarks including Gettysburg, Arlington National Cemetery and, for the first time in many years, had the opportunity to tour the White House, where the students caught a glimpse of President Donald Trump. They also toured the U.S. Capitol, strolled the National Mall, stood at the steps of the Supreme Court and explored the Smithsonian museums.

Midweek, students took part in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Day, where they joined hundreds of other teens from across the country to hear from national leaders and learn how to use their voices back home.

From sobering visits to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial to moments of laughter at the Museum of Illusions and team-building at the Beat the Bomb (escape room), the Youth Tour experience was unforgettable.

“During Youth Tour, I learned more about what our country is built on,” Hildebrand said. “I was able to learn about the advancements this nation has accomplished through adversity, as well as the impact each decision can have on an individual’s life no matter how big or small. I had the opportunity to experience why it is such a blessing to say that I’m proud to be an American.”

An important component to the trip — the students voted for one of their peers to represent Illinois on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC). Those interested in becoming Illinois’ YLC representative filled out an application, and five were selected to give a speech in front of their peers.

Adams Telephone Co-Operative’s Micah Anderson was selected as the 2025-2026 YLC representative for Illinois. He will represent the state at national and state meetings and events in the year ahead.

For students interested in going on Youth Tour in the future, Anderson said, “Take advantage of every opportunity you have. Go to every museum, take every tour and try to make as many friends as possible.”

The week concluded with a farewell dinner and dance, and by the time students returned home on June 23, many said they felt changed by the experience.

“Thank you for this unforgettable experience,” Duke said. “I have had my mind blown by all the breathtaking memorials, museums and everything in between. Without your selection I would have missed one the greatest trips of my life, I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

High school students who live within the service areas of Adams Electric and Adams Telephone are eligible to participate in the annual program. To learn more about Youth Tour, go to youthtour.coop or facebook.com/ILYouthTour. To be added to the mailing list for future contest information, visit adamselectric.coop.