Flathead Electric Cooperative partners with the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association each year to send two to three local students to Washington, D.C. for “Youth Tour.” Applications for 2026 Youth Tour are open through Oct. 31.

Using unclaimed capital credits, the co-op funds these “all-expenses-paid” trips for high school sophomores or juniors from schools in it's service territory. This past summer, Stimson Dolesh from Columbia Falls High School, Cameron Seals from Flathead High School and Lance Peterson from Bigfork High School represented Flathead Electric Co-op at Youth Tour.

Electric cooperatives nationwide send about 1,500 high school students to Youth Tour. Typically, about 25 of those students are Montanans. They learn about American history and the role of electric cooperatives in that history. The students visit national treasures in D.C. and have the chance to meet with Montana’s congressional delegation.

Youth Tour application requirements: Candidates must be regularly enrolled or homeschooled high school sophomores or juniors from schools within the co-op’s service territory, such as: Bigfork High School, Columbia Falls High School, Flathead High School, Glacier High School, Libby High School, Stillwater Christian School and Whitefish High School. A candidate's parent or guardian must be served by Flathead Electric Cooperative at their primary residence.

Winners will attend the Youth Tour Orientation on June 13 in Great Falls and depart for D.C. the following day. They return to Great Falls on June 20.

This year’s essay topic is: All cooperatives share a concern for their communities. Tell us how your local cooperative supports your community or share fresh ideas about how it could get involved.

To learn more, and to view interviews with recent Youth Tour participants, please visit https://www.flatheadelectric.com/youthtour/.