Each year in June, hundreds of high school students gather in Washington, D.C. for an opportunity to learn more about electric cooperatives and cultivate lifelong friendships and memories. To earn a spot on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative holds a contest annually for sophomore or junior high school students. Students enter the contest by writing an essay in response to a question posed by the cooperative. Stray Ressler from Mandan was chosen as Mor-Gran-Sou Electric’s delegate and joined youth sponsored by rural electric cooperatives in Washington, D.C. for a week of learning and networking.

A trip of a lifetime

Fourteen North Dakota youth gathered before the trip at the North Dakota Assocation of Rural Electric Cooperative’s building in Mandan for some team building before traveling to D.C. The group was able to review the itinerary and gather their coordinating t-shirts for the week. The group left on Sunday, June 15 and returned on Saturday, June 21. Each day included new learning experiences and sites to see.   

These experiences and sites included eating at a famous restaurant, attending events and visiting various monuments and museums. For Ressler, one of her favorites places to tour was the U.S. Capitol.

“We were able to meet with the senators,” she says. “When we were meeting with Hoeven he said he had to meet with the vice president after that.”

Ressler says that it was a fun experience. Other places she enjoyed visiting was the Arlington Cemetary and witnessing the changing of the guards and wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Youth Tour is a balance of learning about history, cooperatives and making connections packed into seven days. One way students had the opportunity to visit with other youth was through pin trading. Each student is given fifty pins to trade with students from other states, which sparks conversation. Ressler noted that during Youth Tour they took a cruise with other states and had workshops where they not only learned about cooperatives but could network with each other. A unique addition to the Youth Tour was “Camp Co-op". This was hosted at the hotel each night where students could come together to do crafts, play games and just visit after a long day of exploring.

“It was impactful to make relationships so quickly,” says Ressler. “It’s crazy how much fun can be packed into a week.”

There were various other once-in-a-lifetime places the North Dakota group was able to visit like the FBI Musuem, the White House and eat at Ben’s Chili Bowl.

When reflecting on the Youth Tour, Ressler says that if you're thinking about applying simply look back on those who have attended.

“Through the pictures you will see how much fun was had, memories made and that it is the trip of a lifetime,” Ressler says.

More information regarding the 2026 Youth Tour will be shared in the coming months. Keep an eye out in future issues of North Dakota Living and on our social media.