I absolutely love (LOVE!) this piece of Iowa Youth Tour history! Makes
me so proud to be a member of the electric cooperative family!
Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson inspired the Youth Tour when
he addressed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Annual
Meeting in Chicago in 1957. The Senator and future president declared, “If one
thing comes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the national
capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.
Consequently, some Texas electric cooperatives sent groups
of young people to Washington to work during the summer in Senator Johnson’s
office. In 1958, electric cooperatives in Iowa sponsored the first group of 34
young people on a week-long study tour of our nation’s capital. Later that same
year, another busload came to Washington from Illinois. The idea grew and other
states sent busloads of young people throughout the summer. By 1959, the “Youth
Tour” had grown to 130 students.
In 1964, NRECA began to coordinate joint activities among
the state delegations and suggested that co-op representatives from each state
arrange to be in Washington, D.C., during Youth Tour week. The first year of
the coordinated Tour included approximately 400 young people from 12 states.
Word of the program has continued to spread and today, more than 1,500 students
and over 250 chaperones participate in the Youth Tour every year.
Earlier this year we reached out to a few of the original
Youth Touers … well, it wasn’t called Youth Tour then, the trip was called “Our
Tour of the Nation’s Capital Sponsored by Rural Electric Cooperatives” ... to see
what they remembered from that bus trip to DC 60 years ago. Their responses were absolutely
heartwarming. The details they recalled, and the gratitude for the cooperatives
that sent was so humbling!
In the Living with Energy in Iowa magazine that hits mailboxes this
week, you should check out the story about that first group of students that
were sponsored by Iowa’s electric cooperatives.
It is a clear reminder to me that Youth Tour is way more than a
trip to Washington, DC – it changes lives, creates advocates and instills a strong sense of community.
Stay tuned. The stories from this year’s group of 37
students is just about to unfold.
Cooperatively yours,
Shelly
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