Nearly 100 high school students representing Kentucky’s electric cooperatives gathered at Kentucky’s Capitol on March 13 for the Frankfort Youth Tour, a program offering rising student leaders a personal understanding of American history, civic engagement and their role as citizens and members of electric cooperatives.
Lt. Gov. Jacquline Coleman welcomed students before they toured the Capitol. “Find your passion—and once you find your passion, get involved,” she told students, encouraging them to think of themselves as leaders.
After touring the Capitol, students observed the Senate and House chambers while they were in session. East Kentucky Power Cooperative provided live bucket truck and safety demonstrations, raising the bucket between the Capitol and Capitol Annex with Representative Michael “Sarge” Pollock riding alongside EKPC lineman Dylan Ingram.
During a lunch hosted by the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour delegation and the Rural Electric Cooperative Caucus, students met with elected officials and co-op leaders and learned about the role of co-ops in shaping Kentucky’s energy future.
Callie Decker, a junior at Metcalfe County High School, was among the students chosen to represent Tri-County Electric during the Frankfort Youth Tour. “I am extremely thankful for this opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Frankfort. I did not expect to learn so much, so close to home. Thank you, Tri-County Electric and all the electric co-ops for running this amazing program.”
Sen. Robin Webb and Rep. Wade Williams, two of the co-chairs of the caucus, spoke with students about the importance of electric co-ops in rural communities. Students asked thoughtful questions on grid reliability, environmental concerns and the legislative process.
For the 10th consecutive year, in conjunction with the Frankfort Youth Tour, Kentucky’s co-ops partnered with Secretary of State Michael Adams to launch the 2025 Co-ops Vote initiative—a nonpartisan effort to boost voter turnout in rural communities across the country.
Since the inception of the youth tour program, electric cooperatives have sponsored more than 1,800 Kentucky high school students in Washington, D.C., and even more in Frankfort. Tri-County Electric is proud to invest in our future leaders.
