Missouri Electric Co-Op Youth Programs means education and fun

Haylee Drexler, Birch Tree and Alyssa Barkley, Winona, were among the 85 high school students from across Missouri who participated in the Missouri Electric Cooperative CYCLE (Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience) program. The conference was held July 16-19, 2024 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City. They were sponsored by Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative.

 

Each year in July, this action-filled four days provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, the cooperative form of business and being a leader. The program included nationally known speakers and time at the Missouri State Capitol learning how a bill goes through the process to become a law. To learn more about electric cooperatives, the group was divided up into teams that competed in various events like the “build a cooperative” game. 

 

Another highlight was hearing from the Rachel’s Challenge Organization. Rachel’s family and friends speak to youth around the world about Rachel’s legacy of being a positive role model to everyone she met in life.  Rachel was one of the students killed at Columbine High School and left a lasting impact on the world. 

 

Students also toured the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City and saw a live powerline demonstration as well as several electric vehicles at Central Electric Power Cooperative’s headquarters. For the first time in CYCLE’s great history the conference was extended to four days, with the extra day being a trip to St. Louis to tour the City Museum and enjoy an evening at Dave & Buster’s.

 

The CYCLE program is in its 21st year and is a recipient of the National Community Youth Service award for the top youth program among all electric cooperatives in the country. 

 

For more information about AMEC youth programs, contact director Chris Massman at cmassman@amec.org or go to www.moyouthtour.com/cycle or Stephanie Beltz-Price at Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative at 417-256-2131. Applications are available each January for High School Juniors at the area High Schools.