EMPOWERING FUTURE LEADERS

Youth Tour experience inspires Wiregrass students

When Faith Brookshire, a Slocomb High School junior, applied to participate in the 2023 Youth Tour, she didn’t understand how cooperatives operated. When she realized her own local electric provider, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, and other co-ops like it are owned by members, she was intrigued to learn more.

“The fact that they’re nonprofit and based around members really impressed me,” she says. “I was pleasantly surprised by that and really loved learning about how the cooperative model works.”

Brookshire was among 10 high school students from the Wiregrass region who recently had the opportunity to explore Montgomery and visit the headquarters of WEC. To be considered for Youth Tour, potential delegates go through an application and interview process conducted by an independent panel.

At the Alabama Rural Electric Association Montgomery Youth Tour in March, the students gained valuable knowledge about cooperatives and government operations during an immersive three-day experience. Then, local delegates were welcomed to WEC’s office to learn more about the cooperative’s daily operations. The students toured the facilities, engaged in roundtable discussions with legislators and even got to witness some of the co-op’s equipment in action.

“At Wiregrass Electric, our goal is to provide affordable and reliable electricity and to also better the lives of our members,” says Brad Kimbro, WEC chief operating officer. “Youth Tour provides the students with a deeper understanding on the ins and outs of how we operate as a cooperative but also the history of our government. And this experience teaches them that those two things really go hand in hand.”

Capital fun

During their time in Montgomery, the students visited notable sites such as the Alabama State House, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Alabama Capitol.

For Braxton Hallmon, a junior at Providence Christian School in Dothan, networking with peers became the highlight of the Youth Tour experience. “I got to meet so many people I would’ve never met otherwise, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to build relationships and connect with the different people I met,” Hallmon says.

Additionally, the students participated in activities like a budgeting simulation and listened to motivational speaker Cea Cohen Elliott.

“Cea talked a lot about stress and anxiety,” Hallmon says. “Just hearing her story and her emphasizing that we are enough, just as we are, really gave us encouragement.”

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is a national program that traces its roots back to a speech by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson during the 1957 annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“If one thing comes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents,” Johnson said.

Insider experience

During their WEC visit, local Youth Tour delegates participated in a roundtable discussion with a panel of legislators from the Wiregrass area, including Sen. Donnie Chesteen, Rep. Jeff Sorrells, Rep. Paul Lee and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore.

“It was nice to meet the people who represent us and to have that one-on-one experience,” Hallmon says. “They were really down to earth and welcomed all of our questions.” Nothing was off-limits during the discussion, and it was a valuable experience for everyone involved.

“These students really put a lot of thought into their questions,” Chesteen says. “We really commend these young people for stepping up and taking part in a leadership program like this. Some of them may be in our chairs one day.”

Delegates toured the dispatch center at WEC’s Hartford office, saw the Education Power Station in action, interacted with linemen and learned about the specialized vehicles used in the field — an experience that included some exciting bucket truck rides.

“We had yet another outstanding group of students attend this year, and we are proud of all of them and eagerly look forward to their accomplishments in the years to come,” Kimbro says.

Bound for D.C.

As distinguished delegates, Hallmon and Brookshire were selected to represent WEC at the 2023 Washington, D.C., Youth Tour this month.

“I’m extremely excited for Washington,” Brookshire says. “I’ve never been on a plane, so I’m eager to see new things and meet new people.”

Hallmon, equally enthusiastic, expressed anticipation of visiting the nation’s capital and is looking forward to visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “It’s been on my bucket list for a long time,” he says.

WEC’s Manager of Communications Jennifer Ward accompanied the delegates to Montgomery and expressed admiration for this year’s delegation.

“We had a great group this year, which really instilled a lot of faith in the future of the youth in our area,” Ward says. “A lot of kids get a bad rap, but these are good kids. They are smart kids, and their future is very bright. WEC is proud to play a part in their development as future leaders.” 