Owen Electric students see government and history up close
Owen Electric Cooperative proudly sponsored local students on the Washington Youth Tour, where they joined more than 1,800 students from across the country for an unforgettable week in the nation’s capital. Along the way, they explored historic landmarks, learned about electric cooperatives and government, developed leadership skills and built lasting friendships with fellow youth leaders.Photo: Tim Webb Owen Electric Cooperative sponsored three students on the 2026 Washington Youth Tour: Jayden Dunn of Grant County High School; Lillian Grothaus, a homeschool student; and Noah Wodrig of Owen County High School and The Gatton Academy.
The weeklong experience, coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, brings together rising young leaders from electric cooperative communities to experience American history, civic engagement and the cooperative commitment to community.
The Owen Electric 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 Wodrig, the Capitol was the most meaningful place he visited.
“What made it special to me was that it represents every state in the nation, not just one,” Wodrig says. “Seeing all of the states represented in one place reminded me of how our nation is united while still celebrating its individual identities.”
Grothaus says the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History was her favorite moment.
“I had always wanted to visit the museum,” Grothaus says, “and getting to explore the exhibits with one of the friends that I made on the tour was an awesome experience.”
Dunn says one of the most memorable moments was hearing a speech from Mike Schlappi, a paralympic champion athlete paralyzed in a shooting accident when he was 14 years old.
Schlappi’s talk was very inspiring, Dunn says. “He made his story very enjoyable to listen to, despite what happened to him.”
On Capitol Hill, the students were engaged and appreciative of the opportunity to discuss important issues with congressional staff members 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 intelligence and the nation’s future.
The week also included a walking tour of the memorials on the National Mall, the White House Visitors Center, the World War I Memorial, the Holocaust Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. At Arlington National Cemetery, the students watched the Changing of the Guard and members of the Kentucky delegation laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
