Annabelle Randall, daughter of Melody and Tim Randall, of Hollandale, and Alex Golbuff, son of Cindy and Scott Golbuff, of Glenville, recently participated in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program in Washington, D.C., sponsored by Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services. They spent six days in Washington, D.C., with 35 peers from Minnesota.

Each year in June, an action-filled week provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community service and today’s pressing issues in the energy industry. Students met their elected representatives Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Al Franken and Rep. Tim Walz, among others, saw historic sites, and met more than 1,500 students from across the country who participated in their state’s Youth Tour program.

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a joint effort of local electric co-ops, such as Freeborn-Mower Co-op Services, the Minnesota Rural Electric Association; their statewide co-op association, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, based in Arlington, Va., for 47 years.

Golbuff said he had the experience of a lifetime meeting with peers from other states and NRECA staff during the Washington trip. “I will definitely encourage other students to apply,” Golbuff said.

“The youth tour was so amazing,” Randall said. “It was really cool to meet my senator and representative, and learn about politics up-close. Plus, I made friends from nearly every state and experienced history first-hand. It really made me think about what it means to be an American, and show that people my age do care about this country.”

For more information on how you can participate in the Washington Youth Tour program, cooperative members can contact Mary Nelson at 1-800-734-6421 ext. 3118.