Annaliese Rauschenberger
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is a week filled with history, new friends, tons of fun and memories that will last a lifetime. You get to visit Washington, D.C., learn about electric cooperatives, meet with your elected leaders, see historical sites and so much more!
My favorite part of Youth Tour was the memories I made and the time I spent with new friends! The North Dakota participants traveled with the Montana tour group. Our chaperones were so welcoming, and my fellow students were so fun! I felt right at home with everyone right away, and when the week ended, I didn’t want to leave. I’m still in touch with many of the people I met on Youth Tour.
We got to see so many sights on Youth Tour. No time was wasted sitting around. Every day was packed full of exciting activities. Some of my favorite stops were Arlington National Cemetery, a Baltimore Orioles game, the Naval Academy and the Capitol building. My overall favorite stop was the Gettysburg National Military Park. The beauty of the landscape combined with its fascinating history made it a truly unforgettable experience.
Another great part of Youth Tour was the educational aspect. Our tour group got to meet with Rep. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. John Hoeven. We had fun and informative conversations with both about North Dakota and the energy industry. We also learned more about the cooperatives that sent us on Youth Tour from representatives of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
Youth Tour truly is an “electric” opportunity. I’m so glad I decided to apply. Time spent writing a short essay is well spent, when the possible reward is an all-expense-paid trip to our nation’s capital! Don’t miss out on your chance at this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Annaliese Rauschenberger, 17, is a senior at South Prairie High School, where she is involved in FFA, trapshooting, choir and student council. She enjoys participating in FFA, reading, beading and baking. Annaliese is the daughter of Gabe and Karlee Rauschenberger, members of Verendrye Electric Cooperative. During the Youth Tour, she was selected as the Youth Leadership Council delegate from North Dakota.
