Each year, four high school Juniors from Warren, White, Van Buren and DeKalb Counties have an incredible chance to spend a week in our nation’s capital getting a front row view of government, leadership and public policy.

The Washington Youth Tour, sponsored by Caney Fork Electric Cooperative and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, provides young leaders with an opportunity to explore Washington, D.C., learn about government and cooperatives and develop their leadership skills.  Students are selected for the trip by writing a short story titled "Co-ops Connect" that explains how co-ops connect Tennessee communities with energy, education, economic development and more.

Youth Tour delegates also have the opportunity to win a share of $16,000 in scholarships from Caney Fork Electric and Tennessee’s electric cooperatives.

“The youth tour is an incredible opportunity for these students to actually experience history up-close and personal,” says Angel Wood, CFEC Communications Coordinator. “Delegates experience a whirlwind of a week, visiting museums, monuments and other landmarks.”

President Lyndon Johnson inspired the tour in 1957 when he encouraged electric cooperatives to send youngsters to the nation’s capital. In the years since, more than 6,000 young Tennesseans have been delegates for the Washington Youth Tour.