News

Four area high school juniors will be participating in the 2022 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., in June according to Brad Castor, President/CEO, Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative. Brad Castor announced that Reed McGee, Acorn High School, Mackay Smith, Dierks High School, Jayda Young, Dierks High School and Jenna Bray, Dierks High School are winners of the application/interview contest to determine the local cooperative’s representatives on the Youth Tour. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the four youths,” Castor said. “The trip is all-expense-paid and will involve more than 30 other youth from across Arkansas.” Between June 17 to 23, the tour will visit the White House, The U.S. Capitol, the Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson monuments; the Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and other sights in Washington, D.C. this visit will be a combination of education, history, and fun in our nation’s capital. In addition, the four from Rich Mountain Electric cooperative are eligible to compete to represent Arkansas on the National Rural Electric Cooperative association’s (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council. Arkansas’ representative, selected in part by the chaperons and students, will attend NRECA’S national meeting and participate in a variety of other cooperative activities throughout the year. Each of Arkansas’ 17 electric cooperatives will select representatives for the Youth Tour, primarily through essay and speech contests. Those winners will join approximately 1,600 youths from forty-four states in Washington D.C. for the National Rural Electric Youth Tour. Rich Mountain Electric’s directors and management are happy to have this opportunity to enhance the educational experiences of local youth.