Thirty-six students representing 18 South Dakota electric cooperatives headed to the Washington, D.C., area June 15-21 for the 2024 Rural Electric Youth Tour.
The program, which can trace its existence back to 1957 when Lyndon B. Johnson encouraged electric cooperatives to send youth to the nation’s capital, empowers teens to engage in their communities and learn about the importance of political involvement. More than 1,300 teens have represented the Rushmore State since South Dakota sent its first group in 1963.
The 2024 group visited many historic sites the region offers, including Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The fort’s bombardment in the War of 1812 was captured in Francis Scott Key’s poem, which would eventually become the national anthem. Old Glory played a recurring theme in the trip as students viewed it at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History and also heard an inspirational message centered on the flag from keynote speaker Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist in U.S.A. men’s wheelchair basketball.
Students also met with U.S. Sen. John Thune and U.S. Sen Mike Rounds while in the nation’s capital.