Most teenagers spend the middle of June at the lake or working a summer job. This year, four students from across North Texas spent it in Washington, D.C. From June 14 through 22, Jack Miller, Whit Parkey, Kobie Torgesen, and Mukund Nadella represented Tri-County Electric Cooperative at the Government-in-Action Youth Tour. They met members of Congress, visited national monuments and memorials, and got a close look at how the government runs.
Some lessons do not come from a classroom. This was one of them.
The Youth Tour has been a fixture of the electric cooperative world for a long time. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association runs it, and each June, cooperatives across the country send standout high school students to take part. Texas students make up one of the largest delegations, joining peers from cooperative communities in all 50 states.
There's a reason Tri-County invests in a trip like this every year. "Concern for community is one of the seven cooperative principles, and this program is one of the clearest ways we live it out," said Andrea McCleese, TCEC's executive vice president, member experience. "These students are already leading in their schools and communities. Giving them a week like this tells them we believe in them. That investment comes back to all of us."
Earning a spot wasn't simple. Each student wrote an essay tied to TCEC's 10 Essential Attributes, then sat across from a panel of local judges who asked hard questions and paid close attention to the answers. More students applied than there were seats, and the four who advanced earned their places.
Pamela Green, a Tri-County Community Engagement Specialist, led most of the work before anyone boarded a plane. She managed the process, sent the four off when the Texas delegation gathered in Austin, and was there to welcome them back when they landed. "One of the most rewarding parts of coordinating Youth Tour was watching these four delegates grow. They began as impressive young men with strong leadership potential and returned with greater confidence, new friendships, and a genuine appreciation for the opportunity. They represented Tri-County Electric Cooperative with professionalism every step of the way, and watching that growth unfold was a privilege," she shared.
All four returned with a broader perspective and a deeper appreciation for leadership in action and the opportunities Youth Tour makes possible.
Kobie not only had the time of his life, but learned something about himself as well. “It was truly a trip of a lifetime. I made so many great memories with the places I visited and the people I met. I learned how important it is to raise your voice and speak up, even if you stand alone,” he shared.
Whit described how the trip will leave an enduring impact on him for years to come. “Youth Tour allowed me to reach out to many different people from all different backgrounds that will be lifelong connections,” he said.
The credit for a week like this reaches past the four students who lived it. Their families, schools, and hometowns have helped shape the kind of young people who earn a trip like this. Kobie, Mukund, Jack, and Whit represented us well, and before long they will be the ones leading these communities.
Tri-County is honored to have played a part, proud of how well they showed up for our North Texas area, and glad to have them home.
We’re already looking ahead to the 2027 Youth Tour which will take place June 15-23 and applications will be available in January. To learn more about the Youth Tour program, visit tcectexas.com/youth-tour.