In June 2025, Winterset High School senior Brooke Davis was among the hundreds of students represented by their local REC to attend the National Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Brooke, whose parents are members of Farmers Electric Cooperative, was selected from a pool of applicants to attend the weeklong all-expenses-paid trip.
In her own words, Brooke recounted her experience, saying:
“Visiting Washington, D.C., was an absolutely amazing experience and one I will never forget. Getting to see so many different sites was something really special, and it made the trip feel even more meaningful. Every day brought something new, and it was exciting to experience places I had never visited or knew much about before.
“At first, I was nervous about being around people I had never met, but that feeling didn’t last long. By the end of the trip, I had made a few lifelong friends from different schools, and I still talk to them to this day. It’s crazy how quickly we all connected, and those friendships ended up being one of the best parts of the trip.
“Some of my favorite moments were visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where I was one of four people chosen to lay the wreath, and attending the sunset parade. Even though the week was packed with activities, it never felt overwhelming. The coordinators gave us a lot of freedom with our schedules as long as a few of us stayed together, which made everything feel more enjoyable.
“Throughout the trip, we also got to trade state pins and corn necklaces with students from other states. I ended up collecting around 40 of them, which gave me even more chances to socialize and meet new people beyond just those from cooperatives in Iowa. I took so many pictures during the trip, and I still look back at them wishing I could experience it all over again.”
Farmers Electric accepts Youth Tour applications every spring. Watch for the next opportunity in 2027!