Blue Grass Energy students build confidence in nation’s capital

Blue Grass Energy students Nevaeh Ader and Ruth Higgs returned from Washington, D.C., with new friend-ships, broader perspectives and a deeper appreciation for the nation’s history.

Ader, a Mercer County Senior High School student, and Higgs, a Model Laboratory School student, were spon-sored by Blue Grass Energy on the 2026 Washington Youth Tour, a weeklong experience coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The program brings together rising young leaders from electric cooperative communities to experience American history, civic engagement and the coop-erative commitment to community.

Before the trip, Ader says she was “shy, nervous and scared of being alone after graduating high school and going to col-lege.” Youth Tour helped change that.

“I met the most amazing people and gained friendships I hope to keep and cherish for years to come,” Ader says. “Going to Washington, D.C., gave me a breath of fresh air and opened my eyes as I realized that I have the rest of my life in front of me and get to create my own story.”

The Blue Grass Energy students joined Kentucky delegates for visits to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and George Washington’s Mount Vernon before continuing to Washington, D.C., where they toured the U.S. Capitol, museums and memorials.

For Higgs, one of the highlights came during NRECA’s youth event, where students from across the country gathered.

“My favorite part of the trip was meeting the delegates from the other states and trading pins with them,” Higgs says. “It was so fun and interesting to meet everyone and compare how different our states are.”

On Capitol Hill, the students were engaged and appreciative of the opportunity to discuss important issues with congressional staff mem-bers and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. They spoke up for electric cooperatives, asking about FEMA reform and how to make sure Kentucky co-ops are adequately served by FEMA.

They also asked about artificial intelli-gence and the nation’s future.

“It is a privilege to spend a week in Washington, D.C., with some of Kentucky’s brightest young leaders,” says Mallory Wafzig, the statewide association’s manager of cooperative outreach. “As they walk in the footsteps of our nation’s founders and experience our democracy firsthand, they are inspired to lead, serve and make a difference in their own communities.”