Each year, Central hosts a contest for high school juniors living within Central’s service area to attend Youth Tour at our nation’s capital.

This year, Rhett Hayley from Chandler and Kyle Stokes from Stillwater were selected as winners. They visited Washington, D.C. in June with other winners from cooperatives across Oklahoma.

Central’s Marketing and Communications Specialists, Kory Bowman and Ivy Swan, joined the week-long trip as chaperones.

“Youth Tour is so much more than a trip to Washington, D.C.,” Bowman said. “It’s an opportunity for students to experience history firsthand, learn about government and see how cooperatives invest in the next generation of leaders.” 

Hayley, Stokes, Bowman and Swan met U.S. Senators, visited national monuments, historical sights, Smithsonian museums and cruised the Potomac River on a riverboat dinner cruise.

The participants competed against other high school juniors in an essay contest. The top five finalists were interviewed, with Hayley and Stokes winning the week-long, all-expense-paid trip, and the three runner-up applicants receiving scholarships.

The Youth Tour competition for 2027 will open to high school juniors in September.

Those interested in applying or who want to learn more can do so at mycentral.coop/youthtourinterest.