Rural Missouri - July 2017 - 4

| C O O P E R AT I O N

photos by Paul Newton

Above: In June, Missouri's electric cooperatives sent these 102 rural youth to Washington, D.C. on an all-expense-paid trip. The annual event sends the best and brightest to our nation's capital
to help mold future leaders. Below: Connor Squellati takes a look a the digital images shot by Sonya Hu while standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

n June, 102 soon-to-be high school seniors from
Missouri were sent on a "trip of a lifetime" by their
local electric cooperatives. The talented teenagers
gathered in Jefferson City before traveling to Washington, D.C., for the annual Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. The delegation joined more than 1,800 other
youth in our nation's capital, making this the largest
Youth Tour ever.
The Missouri delegation kept plenty busy with
stops at numerous historic sites, including Arlington
National Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, National World
War II Memorial, Ford's Theatre, Smithsonian Institution, Mount Vernon and many more. The group was
able to take in the opening night performance of "The
Sound of Music" at the Kennedy Center as well.
The delegates spent their final day in D.C. on Capitol Hill where they engaged their elected leaders in
Congress.
Baylee Bilyeu was sponsored by Intercounty Electric Cooperative and got a
chance to see a special painting on the trip.
Her painting "Prayer for the Nations" finished second in a congressional art show.
After seeing the oil pastel piece, U.S. Rep.
Jason Smith asked if he could have the
painting for his D.C. office. Baylee was able
to view the painting hanging in Smith's
office inside the U.S. Capitol.
Another highlight for the group was
seeing an Honor Flight leaving D.C. as the
Youth Tour was arriving. "Coming off the
flight and seeing all the veterans sitting
there, that was the best part," Baylee says.
"They've waited their whole lives for this
trip. It made me appreciate being able to do
it in high school."
Of the more than 100 youth on the trip,

Trip of a
lifetime
Annual Youth Tour
to Washington, D.C.
builds future leaders

one was chosen as Missouri's representative on the
Youth Leadership Council. Chloe Momphard, a delegate from Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, will
represent Missouri during the next year on the YLC.
She'll travel back to Washington for more training
and work at the annual meeting of the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Nashville
next February.
This year marked the 54th consecutive summer that Missouri's electric cooperatives brought
together some of the best and brightest and sent
them to Washington.
"It can be a challenge to get young people to write
an essay, create a presentation or even stand in
front of a panel of judges and give a speech," says
Mike Marsch, who organizes the trip for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. "However,
year after year, Missouri's electric cooperatives and
a host of high school teachers encourage
them to do it. Those selected for Youth Tour
are our future leaders."
The Youth Tour was inspired by thenSen. Lyndon Johnson in 1957 when he
asked rural electric leaders to "send youngsters to the national capital where they can
actually see what the flag stands for and
represents." The following year, electric
cooperatives in Iowa accepted that challenge
and sent the first group of young people on
a weeklong tour of our nation's capital. In
1964, 22 of Missouri's electric cooperatives
sent 58 students to Washington, D.C.
For more information on the youth programs offered by Missouri's electric cooperatives, visit www.amec.coop and click on the
Youth Programs tab.

EDITORIAL STAFF: Jim McCarty, editor, jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop | Paul Newton, managing editor, pnewton@
ruralmissouri.coop | Heather Berry, associate editor, hberry@ruralmissouri.coop | Megan Backes, creative director,
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop | Zach Smith, field editor; zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop | Katie Cassidy, intern, kcassidy@
ruralmissouri.coop | Angie Jones-Wheeler, co-op page designer | Dusty Weter, co-op page designer
ADVERTISING: Mary Davis, production manager, mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop

"Devoted to the rural way of life"
Rural Missouri is published monthly by the Association of
Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Barry Hart, CEO/executive vice
president. Individual subscription rate: $10 per year or $22 for
three years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for members
of participating RECs $2.22, plus taxes and postage. Delivery
as specified by subscriber. If not specified, delivery will be by
periodical class mail at subscriber's expense. Periodical Class
postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing offices.
Copyright 2017, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Call for reprint rights.

RURAL MISSOURI | JULY 2017

Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Rural Missouri.
Advertising standards: Advertising published in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are
accurately described and sold to customers at the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri's electric cooperatives do not endorse
any products or services advertised herein. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is
never knowingly accepted by this publication.

Editorial: Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-659-3423 | info@ruralmissouri.coop | www.ruralmissouri.coop
Advertising: mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop | 573-659-3400
National Advertising Representative: National Country Market;
611 S. Congress St., Suite 504; Austin, TX 78704 | 573-659-3400

USPS 473-000 ISSN 0164-8578

http://www.amec.coop http://www.ruralmissouri.coop http://www.facebook.com/RuralMissouri http://www.youtube.com/RuralMOmag http://www.pinterest.com/ruralmissouri

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - July 2017