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.
Youth Tour Dates: June 14-21, 2026
Deadline to Apply: The application for Youth Tour 2026 will open on Friday, November 21, 2025. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 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!
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. We will select two winners and an alternate.
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 RULES:
Participants will be required to appear on a recorded Zoom interview and be prepared to discuss the following topics:
1. Why should I be chosen as Lyntegar Electric Cooperative’s delegate to the 2026 Youth Tour, and what do I expect to gain from the experience?
2. Tell what you know about Lyntegar Electric Cooperative? (i.e. board of directors, counties served, etc.)
3. What is the difference between a Cooperative and an investor-owned utility? Know some specifics.
4. What is Texas Electric Cooperatives, and what is their function in the Youth Tour?
Participants will have 10-15 minutes of interview time.
ENTRY FORMS:
Entry forms must be received by 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: Brailey Ramirez
PO Box 970
Tahoka, TX 79373
Online application is available on the third tab.
QUESTIONS:
Questions should be addressed to Brailey Ramirez 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.