NRECA is dedicated to training and building the next generation of leaders for co-op communities. This commitment doesn’t stop at the end of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour; it continues all year long through the Youth Leadership Council. This 45-person delegation is composed of one delegate from each state with an electric cooperative or public power district. The council participates in a carefully curated educational curriculum designed to build leadership and public speaking skills and enhance the delegates’ knowledge of the energy industry and the cooperative business model.
How it works
Are you curious about what the program entails? Take a look at the schedule below:
- June 14-24, 2025 | YLC delegates are selected and announced at the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour!
- July 21-25, 2025 | YLC delegates return to D.C. for a weeklong training called “Basecamp.” This week is designed to equip delegates with the resources they need for their year of service. Programming focuses on strengthening delegates’ leadership, public speaking, advocacy and communication skills, building strong connections with fellow YLC members, NRECA’s senior leaders, and their local and statewide cooperatives, and educating them on the cooperative industry and their role in advocating for rural America. The program is composed of four days of hands-on workshops, meetings with NRECA’s leaders and team-building activities.
- August 2025-February 2026 | Delegates participate in monthly virtual “checkpoints” where they hear from guest speakers, participate in more leadership development trainings and work with their local co-ops to host Co-op Month projects and present their speeches for national spokesperson.
- March 2026 | The YLC program’s “Summit” is at NRECA’s PowerXchange and TechAdvantage. During PowerXchange, delegates are recognized on stage for their year of service, and one delegate is chosen to serve as the national spokesperson and address cooperative leaders during a general session. Attendees also hear inspiring keynote speakers, attend cutting-edge breakout sessions and explore the Expo floor! The 2026 PowerXchange and TechAdvantage will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, March 5-11.
Are you a Youth Tour delegate interested in applying? Here are the responsibilities:
- Return to D.C. for “Basecamp” from July 21-25, 2025.
- Attend virtual monthly meetings from August 2025 through February 2026.
- Complete a National Co-op Month activity in partnership with your local co-op or statewide association. Check out some previous projects here!
- Draft, present and record a speech as your submission to be selected for the national spokesperson! Check out some previous speeches here and here!
For more information and how to apply, please get in touch with your state’s Youth Tour director or email Cale McCall, NRECA’s Youth Programs manager, at YouthPrograms@NRECA.coop.
The national spokesperson
A panel of NRECA judges selects one national spokesperson and runner-up each year to serve as the council’s unifying voices. The national spokesperson addresses the over 6,000 attendees at NRECA’s PowerXchange and TechAdvantage and returns the following year to address delegates at the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
Please take a look at Haley Dorsey, the 2024 national spokesperson from North Carolina, and her address in San Antonio.
Questions?
Are you a cooperative or public power district, and was your student selected for the YLC? Visit cooperative.com for resources and more information. For delegates interested in applying or parents with questions, you can email Cale McCall, NRECA’s Youth Programs manager, at YouthPrograms@NRECA.coop for more information.