Local student returns from Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

Lake Country Power sponsored William Maki from Goodland, Minn., to attend what has been called a “trip of a lifetime” to Washington, D.C. Maki traveled in June with 34 other Minnesota students to join more than 1,700 high school sophomores and juniors from across the country to participate in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.

Each year the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) organizes and leads Minnesota’s student delegation to Washington, D.C. While on tour, students meet with elected officials to discuss the process of government, while increasing their knowledge of electric cooperatives, our nation’s capital and American history.

“Regardless of your political stripes, what goes on in the political environment affects us all,” said Darrick Moe, CEO and president of MREA. “Electric cooperatives operate in a way that puts member-owners in the driver’s seat so staying in tune with our political environment is an important aspect of that mission.”

Since 1958, electric cooperatives have sponsored nearly 100,000 high school students on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour – a joint effort between the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and statewide electric cooperative associations like MREA.

“The number one thing I took away from the trip would have been from the NRECA leadership teachings,” Maki said. “These were amazing and gave me a whole new perspective on how people like me can actually make a difference in our country. I’ll always remember the people I got to know, whether it was the other delegates or the chaperones, I will never forget those amazing people.”

Minnesota’s students toured the Library of Congress, Capitol building, Arlington Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Mount Vernon, Holocaust Museum, Smithsonian Museums, National Museum of the Marine Corps, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument and many other important memorials on the National Mall.

“I am extremely grateful to those who paid for and orchestrated my trip to DC,” Maki said. “It truly was the most amazing week of my life and I am extremely grateful. Thank you all so much for changing my life and giving me a new perspective of the world.” Maki will be a senior in Fall 2026.

Anyone interested should contact Tami Zaun at tzaun@lcp.coop or call 800-421-9959. The application process will open this winter for 2027.

Lake Country Power, www.lakecountrypower.coop, is a Touchstone Energy® cooperative serving parts of eight counties in northeastern Minnesota. The rural electric cooperative provides services to more than 44,000 members and has offices located in Cohasset, Kettle River and Mountain Iron.