2026 Youth Tour
BUTLER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SPONSORS LOCAL STUDENT ON A TRIP TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL
Jarrett Bootsma, a rising senior from Wichita Northwest High, recently represented Butler Electric Cooperative at the 2026 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., held from June 13-19. During their time in Washington, D.C., students deepened their understanding of America’s electric cooperatives and developed their leadership skills while connecting with peers from across the cooperative network.
This year, the Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative joined with the Kansas-Hawaii delegation. These 32 standout student representatives, 27 from Kansas, four from Hawaii, and one from Maine, were hand-selected through an application process.
The Youth Tour kicked off in Topeka with a speech from Trooper Ben, a welcome from other notable Youth Tour Alumni, and dinner, followed by an exclusive night tour of the Kansas State Capitol. The tour was led by Senator Brenda Dietrich and Representative Tobias Schlingensiepen, along with Peter Barstad, Director of Policy in the Kansas House Majority Leader Chris Croft's Office. After returning to the hotel, students had the opportunity to get to know each other better with icebreaker activities.
In Washington, D.C., students explored iconic landmarks including the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and The People’s House – A White House Experience, along with numerous monuments and memorials. Visits to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Smithsonian museums offered powerful insights into history and culture.
On June 18, during the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) National Youth Day, students were inspired by a dynamic lineup of speakers, including NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, NRECA President Mike Partin, Paralympic Gold Medalist Mike Schlappi, and Brynn Lee Hirata, the 2026 National Youth Leadership Council Spokesperson. This year’s NRECA Youth Tour brought together around 2,100 delegates and chaperones across 44 states to Washington D.C. This attendance represents a record of almost 700 cooperatives, bringing attendance back to pre-pandemic levels.
Students had the unique opportunity to meet with U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall. Additionally, delegates met with Chief of Staff, Krisann Pearce, from Congressman Derek Schmidt's office; Legislative Assistant, Rylee Rosamond, and intern Hayden Napierala (a 2023 Washington, D.C. Youth Tour alumna) from Congressman Tracey Mann’s office; and intern Cappi Hoeting (a 2022 Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp alumna) from Senator Moran’s office. During these discussions, they asked thoughtful questions on a range of topics that mattered to them, gaining firsthand insight into the legislative process and the role of elected officials.
Beyond the educational experiences, students enjoyed unique opportunities to bond with peers from across the country—trading pins with other state delegations and taking in the sights during a scenic dinner cruise on the Potomac River.
Reflecting on his experience, Bootsma shared, “The most impactful part of this trip was experiencing a real revelation about the effect I have on the people around me. It was equally humbling and inspiring to discover the actual weight of my own words and actions. It turns out, the effort that you put out into the world every day makes a real difference in the lives of others.
I was incredibly inspired by learning the real American origin stories of leaders like Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Roger Marshall. It’s easy to look at Capitol Hill and assume everyone in power just began there, predestined to wear a tailored suit and hold a gavel.
But hearing about the hustle and hard work it takes to represent a state on the national level proved that extraordinary paths are forged by extraordinary everyday people.
The memory forever branded into my brain is walking out onto a stage in front of 1,700 people. Sure, I only had the microphone for about ten seconds, but delivering those words with unapologetic passion and confidence felt like a lifetime. It was a massive adrenaline rush, a defining moment in my life, and surely an experience I would not soon forget.”
At the conclusion of the conference, the delegates elected the 2027 NRECA Youth Leadership Council representatives for Kansas, Hawaii, and Maine. Representing Kansas is Butler’s very own Jarrett Bootsma. Cambell Donahoe, sponsored by Kaua'i Island Utility of Lihue, Hawaii will represent Hawaii, and Leo Whittemore, sponsored by Eastern Maine Electric of Calais, Maine will represent Maine. Alongside 41 other student leaders from across the country, Bootsma, Donahoe, and Whittemore will assist at PowerXchange, NRECA’s Annual Meeting, to be held in San Diego, California, in February 2027. We are proud of Jarrett for this outstanding achievement and look forward to working with him further as he embarks on this journey.
Students who participated in the 2026 Youth Tour are also eligible to apply for the NRECA Glenn English Scholarship. For more information about the Youth Tour and other Butler Electric youth programs, please contact Dakota Smith, dsmith@butler.coop, and stay tuned for Youth Leadership Program applications to open for the 2026-2027 school year.
