Amery senior Katie Lester is Co-op Youth Tour delegate

Katie Lester, a senior at Amery High School this fall, represented Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative for the 2024 Youth Tour of Washington, D.C. June 15-23. She is the daughter of co-op members Andrew and Kelli Lester. 

The annual Electric Co-op Youth Tour is an all-expenses-paid leadership event that brings together more than 1,800 high school students from electric co-ops across the country. Students learned about the rural electric program, U.S. history, government and democracy. They met Wisconsin congressional leaders and toured Capitol Hill, national monuments, Arlington National Cemetery and Smithsonian Museums. The tour is hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA), with local sponsorship by Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative.

“Polk-Burnett is pleased to support youth leadership opportunities for our members, according to our cooperative principles,” said Polk-Burnett General Manager Steve Stroshane. “We congratulate Katie and know she represented our co-op and community well.”

Lester volunteers at her church and is active in FCCLA at Amery High School, where she helps with the Veterans Day breakfast. She said Youth Tour highlights were the sunset parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Air and Space Smithsonian Museum and the dinner-dance boat cruise.

“I learned so much about electric co-ops and how they help their members,” said Katie. “I had so much fun on Youth Tour, visiting monuments and museums, especially the Lincoln Memorial. I am grateful for this opportunity and will never forget the memories I made!”

Polk-Burnett’s Youth Tour program does not affect electric rates; it is funded with unclaimed Capital Credits that would be forfeited to the state if not used for education, and by the generosity of members who donate future Capital Credits.  

Learn more about Youth Tour and how you can apply.

Katie Lester, a senior at Amery High School, represented Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative during a visit to our nation’s capital in June.

Eighteen youth delegates from 11 Wisconsin electric cooperatives participated in a week-long Youth Tour of Washington, D.C., including Katie Lester, representing Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, pictured far right.

Delegates from Wisconsin Electric Cooperatives met with legislators, including Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin. Katie Lester is just below Sen. Baldwin.