Embark on an Epic Journey to D.C. for FREE!
Now Accepting Essay Submissions for Youth Tour 2025
Get ready for the trip of a lifetime! MEC believes in investing in today’s youth because they are the future. Some of the brightest students attend our area schools, and we want to give them a chance to dive into our nation’s rich history.
If you’re a current sophomore or junior and your parent or guardian is an MEC member, you can submit an essay for a chance to win a spot on the 2025 Youth Tour. This unforgettable trip to Washington, D.C., from June 14-21, 2025, brings together over 1,500 students from across the country.
Winners will tour iconic museums, memorials, and monuments, and meet U.S. Representatives and Senators face-to-face! It’s a week packed with adventure, learning, and a chance to better understand the importance of rural electrification in our communities.
But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what 2024 Youth Tour winner and recent Hellgate High School graduate Maizy Miller had to say about her experience:
“I applied after reading about past winners in Rural Montana Magazine,” Maizy shared. “You could tell they had an amazing time and made lifelong friends. I’d never been to Washington, D.C. before, so as someone interested in student government and diplomacy, the chance to visit such a culturally and politically rich place really encouraged me to apply.”
When asked about her favorite part of the trip, Maizy said, “There were so many highlights! Visiting the Vietnam Memorial and meeting Senators were incredible, but my absolute favorite part was spending time with peers from all over the state.”
For anyone considering applying, Maizy has one piece of advice: “Do it! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You get to explore D.C. in a unique way, visiting everything from George Washington’s home to a Nationals baseball game. You truly discover a world outside of Montana—all for free!”
Maizy admitted she wasn’t sure what to expect at first: “I thought it might be more academic and maybe a bit dry, but it was anything but. We learned so much through hands-on experiences. Everything was engaging, and the supervisors made the trip both fun and educational.”
If she could revisit one memory? “The Smithsonian museums, for sure. Three hours was nowhere near enough time to explore everything! I especially loved the National Art Gallery, with paintings by Da Vinci and Rembrandt. There’s truly something for everyone—whether you’re into history, art, dinosaurs, or more.”
When asked what her biggest takeaway was, Maizy emphasized the friendships she made along the way. “The friendships will last for years, and the trip sparked a curiosity in me to explore more of the world. I’m incredibly grateful to MEC and the cooperatives in Montana for giving us this amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and make memories that will last a lifetime.”
A spot on the 2025 Youth Tour could be yours! Visit https://bit.ly/MECSYouthTour to learn more or to apply. Essays will be accepted online from 8 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024, until 5 p.m. on Friday, November 29, 2024.
