Youth Tour
We believe in investing in today’s youth, because they are our future! Some of the brightest students reside within our district schools and we want to give them an opportunity to experience the past, present and future of our great nation.
Each fall, we invite (current) sophomores and juniors to apply for a chance to win the trip of a lifetime to Washington D.C. If chosen to represent MEC, students will join more than 1,800 other high school students and watch history come alive, while exploring museums, memorials and monuments, and rubbing elbows with US Representatives and Senators, all while learning about the history of rural electrification and the value it brings to our communities.
2026 Youth Tour Materials & Application
2026 Youth Tour Resource Guide
2026 Essay Topic
“All cooperatives share a concern for their communities. Write about how your local cooperative supports your community or detail new ways they could get involved.”
Application Criteria
- Applications may be submitted from 8 a.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025 until 5 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2025;
- Students will be a high school junior or senior in fall of 2026 (student is currently a sophomore or junior);
- Student may not be a former Youth Tour winner;
- The student’s parent or guardian must be served by Missoula Electric Cooperative;
- The essay must be submitted as a Word document and include a cover page with the student’s full name, address, phone number, and list “Missoula Electric Cooperative” as their rural electric cooperative;
- Student essays and a complete application must be submitted on our website by no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2025.
If you have any questions, please email kelseyl@meccoop.com.
The 2026 Youth Tour Application period has closed.
