Youth Tour
"The trip of a lifetime"

Southwest Electric Cooperative (SWEC) is proud to be one of the many electric cooperatives in Missouri to sponsor an essay contest to select two high school Junior's for the annual Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. The experience takes place each year in June. These fortunate high school Junior's represent SWEC on an all expense paid tour of the nation's capital. They tour museums, visit America's most cherished monuments, and even meet their elected officials; while learning about electric cooperatives and their role in the community.

This year's Youth Tour trip is scheduled for June 14th - 20th, 2013.

The deadline to submit an essay for the 2013 Youth Tour contest was Friday, March 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. 

Contest Rules:

Eligibility - This contest is open to any current high school Junior residing or attending school within SWEC's service territory.  Parents of the student do not have to be a member of the cooperative.  Please complete the Youth Tour Cover Letter and submit with your essay.  Click here for the Cover Letter.

Essay Requirements  - Each contestant should write and submit a typewritten 500-word essay on the topic provided above.

Finalist Judging/Interviews - Essays will be read by impartial judges, and preliminary finalists will be selected.  These finalists will then be called and scheduled for an interview with the judges.  Once the interviews are completed, two winners and two runner-up positions will be selected.  Judging will be based on knowledge of the subject, originality, composition, grammer and neatness.   The two runner-up winners will participate in the CYCLE program in Jefferson City, scheduled for July 17th - 19th, 2013; this is also an all expense paid trip!

For more information or to submit your essay, please email, call or write:

Check out these Youth Tour videos on YouTube:

2012 Youth Tour Video
2011 Youth Tour Video
2010 Youth Tour Video
2009 Youth Tour Video

Youth Tour Resources

Need help with your essay?  Check out these Youth Tour resources.  Also, be sure to check out National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Youth Tour site.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association represents nearly 1,000 electric cooperatives nationwide and sponsors the Youth Tour program nationwide. Check out NRECA's Youth Tour site.

The Rural Utilites Service replaced the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Electrification Administration.

Associated Electric Cooperative in Springfield, Missouri recounts its history.

The National Cooperative Business Association is a national trade association representing cooperatives.

The Electric Power Research Institute is a scientific and research organization funded in part by America's rural electric cooperatives.

CYCLE
(Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience)

The CYCLE program is a three day conference held in Jefferson City in late July. It brings in some of the brightest young leaders from across Missouri. The focus is to show students more about electric cooperatives, teach leadership skills and experience Missouri state government. The program includes nationally know speakers and a day at the state Capitol. There is also time for some fun things like an outdoor barbeque and a hypnosis. The group is also divided up into smaller teams that compete in various events like the “build a cooperative” game.

Delegates for the CYCLE program are selected from the Youth Tour Essays. The two runner up entries from Youth Tour contest are awarded the CYCLE trip. CYCLE is also an all expense paid experience for High School Juniors with the same eligibility requirements as Youth Tour.

The 2013 CYCLE program is set for July 17th - 19th in Jefferson City, Missouri. 

The winners of the 2012 CYCLE program!