Youth Tour 2025

NRECA YOUTH TOUR: Quinlivan joins youth in D.C. 

Each year in June, hundreds of high school students gather in Washington, D.C. for an opportunity to learn more about electric cooperatives and cultivate lifelong friendships and memories. To earn a spot on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour, Roughrider Electric Cooperative holds a contest annually for sophomore or junior high school students. Students enter the contest by writing an essay in response to a question posed by the cooperative. Caiden Quinlivan from Center was chosen as Roughrider Electric’s delegate and joined youth sponsored by rural electric cooperatives in Washington, D.C. for a week of learning and networking.

An eye-opening experience

Fourteen North Dakota youth gathered before the trip at the North Dakota Assocation of Rural Electric Cooperative’s building in Mandan for some team building before traveling to D.C. The group was able to review the itinerary and gather coordinating t-shirts for the week. The group left on Saturday, June 14 and returned on Saturday, June 21. Each day included new learning experiences and sites to see.    

These experiences and sites included eating at a famous restaurant, attending events and visiting various monuments and museums. For Quinlivan, one of his favorite places to visit was the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. 

“Being a plane guy, it was cool to see the rare and interesting parts they have there,” Caiden says. 

This wasn’t Caiden’s first trip to Washington, D.C., but it was a unique experience. 

“It was nice to be in a group that had connections to go to some of those places,” Caiden says. 

He says there were able to eat at famous restaurants and attend Les Miserable. Even places like the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center was something that he maybe wouldn't have been able to do, due to it being outside of D.C. 

Another experience Caiden enjoyed was trading pins. Each Youth Tour participant receives 50 pins to trade with students from other states. This helps with starting conversations between students. 

“I received over 47 pins,” says Caiden. “It was a reason to go talk to other people.” 

Youth Tour participants also had the opportunity to visit with U.S. Senator’s Cramer and Hoeven while in D.C. The senators visited with students about energy policy and how it impacts cooperatives and communities in North Dakota. This interaction was impactful to Caiden. He said it encourages him to reach out to those in D.C. on issues. 

Caiden urges others to “just go it” when applying for the Youth Tour. He says despite not knowing the other people attending at first and going outside of North Dakota, it was an eye-opening experience. 

More information regarding the 2026 Youth Tour will be shared in the coming months. Keep an eye out in future issues of North Dakota Living and on our social media.

NOTES 

Second trip to DC

Favorite place-

• Steve center- bring plane guys so was cool to see the rare and interesting projects. 

What made the trip this time different?

• Saw some of the same monuments
• Steve museum and see La Measi
• Eat at famous restaurants
• Nice to be in a group and have connection to go to some of those place 

Can you share a memorable experience or highlight from your participation in the Youth Tour?

• My favorite parts of the yt is pin trading. We each got 50 pins and i received over 47 unique pins from other states. Helped with the socialization aspect. A reason to go talk to other people.
• One night a dance for socialization w other states, moviation speakers and river boat cruise with other states
• Through the days pin tradung the halls 

How did the Youth Tour impact you as a young person in the community? Does it motivate you to get more involved in your community? 

• During YT we not only had a section on co-ops and their rolls on their community, we also had the chnace to seapk with the two sentors and see how they thought their work in DC imapcts ND. Get your foot in the door and be more willing to talk to those in DC and be willing to talk to them 

What skills or knowledge have you gained through the Youth Tour that you think will be valuable in your future endeavors?

• Learning about co-ops has opened how he uses thinking about projects and groups.
• Encourages him to reach out to those in DC. Not afraid to reach out.
• Cramer- Stood out to me, he was carrying on a canvo with reporters 

In what ways do you plan to utilize the knowledge and experiences gained from the Youth Tour to make a positive impact in your own community?

• Motivation speakers, Mike Shalnapi, injured and paralyzed, dispite his injury he was able to medal to Olympic sports.
• Encourages me to go out and be involved. 

Looking back on your journey as a Youth Tour delegate, what advice would you give to future participants or aspiring young leaders who are considering joining the program?

• Just go for it. Being able to go with others to DC dispit not knowning anyone and a place that is very differnt thean. Seeing people that are just like us, eye opening experince