YOUTH TOUR INFORMATION
The Government-in-Action Youth Tour is an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for qualifying high school students from rural areas served by electric cooperatives. Local electric cooperatives sponsor area students, and Texas Electric Cooperatives and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association organize the Youth Tour.
Inspired by Lyndon B. Johnson’s entreaty to educate youth about government and civic engagement, Texas electric cooperatives have been sponsoring high school students on a trip to the nation’s capital since 1965. Texas’ youths join hundreds of their peers from all over the United States for a nine-day tour, including meetings with legislators and tours of national monuments. Those returning call it the “trip of a lifetime.”
Three students were selected to represent Lyntegar Electric Cooperative on the 2025 Youth Tour trip. This trip is all-expenses paid.
2026 Youth Tour Dates: June 14-21, 2026
What you could win: If chosen, you would win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. and a $2,000 scholarship for college!
Deadlines, Dates, and Times
Applications open - November 21, 2025
Application Deadline - January 9, 2026; 11:59 pm
Virtual Interview Deadline - January 15, 2026; 5:00 pm
Read the rules and eligibility requirements on the next tab.
GOVERNMENT-IN-ACTION
YOUTH TOUR RULES
Be one of the successful candidates during “The Youth Tour Interview” and you could win an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. with other winners from across the state of Texas. The trip is June 14-21, 2026. Lyntegar will select two winners and an alternate. If you are selected as a winner for Youth Tour and attend the trip, you will also receive a $2,000 scholarship for college.
ELIGIBILITY
You must currently be classified as a sophomore, junior, or senior, and your parent or guardian must be a member of Lyntegar Electric Cooperative, Inc.
CONTEST/INTERVIEW RULES
Participants will be required to complete an online application, appear on a recorded online interview, and upload a resume.
Participants will have 10-15 minutes of interview time. Click here to read possible interview questions.
At the time of your interview, please make sure you have a good internet connection and are in a non-distracting, quiet location.
JUDGING
Participants will be judged based on knowledge of subject, how well they present themselves, their speaking ability, appearance, and poise.
We will be awarding each student selected to represent Lyntegar Electric Cooperative on the Youth Tour a $2,000 scholarship. Scholarships will be sent directly to the college of your choice. If a winner is a high school sophomore or junior, the scholarship will be held until they graduate.
DEADLINES, DATES, AND TIMES
Applications open - November 21, 2025
Application Deadline - January 9, 2026; 11:59 pm
Virtual Interview Deadline - January 15, 2026; 5:00 pm
ENTRY FORMS:
Entry forms must be received by 11:59 pm on Friday, January 9, 2026. You may drop off the form at our Tahoka office or choose one of the options below.
Mail forms to:
Lyntegar Electric Cooperative, Inc.
ATTN: Youth Tour
PO Box 970
Tahoka, TX 79373
Online application is available on the third tab.
QUESTIONS:
Questions should be addressed to Brailey Ramirez (bramirez@lyntegar.coop) or the Member Services Department at (806)-561-4588 or toll free at 1-877-218-2308.
Youth Tour Rules
- Must be able to participate in the Youth Tour trip to Washington DC on June 14-21, 2026
- Must be able to provide a valid Texas driver’s license or Texas state-issued ID card
- Must be able to ride in a car or bus for up to 12 hours (with breaks) in a single day
- Must be able to fly in an airplane
- Must be willing to reasonably assist Lyntegar Electric Cooperative with presentations promoting the Youth Tour program and the Cooperative, including a presentation at the Annual Membership Meeting on August 11, 2026
- The Cooperative reserves the right to select the runner-up or another contestant for the Youth Tour trip if the winner is unable to participate
- The winner’s parents/guardians must give the Cooperative written permission and a waiver of release for the winner to participate in the Youth Tour
- The winners will be asked to send a thank you note from Washington, D.C. to the Lyntegar Board of Directors
The application for Youth Tour 2026 will open on November 21, 2025.
Click here to read possible interview questions.