Thirty-three teens representing 19 South Dakota electric cooperatives traveled to the Washington, D.C., area June 14-20 for the 2026 South Dakota Youth Tour.

The program traces its roots to a 1957 speech by Lyndon B. Johnson, who urged electric cooperatives to send young people to the nation’s capital so they “can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.” Since South Dakota sent its first group in 1963, more than 1,350 students have represented the Rushmore State on the trip. This year’s delegation joined Youth Tour students from 44 other states.

The 2026 group visited many of Washington, D.C.’s most historic and impactful sites, including Arlington National Cemetery, where rows of white headstones tell the story of generations who served and sacrificed for the country. The group continued exploring themes of patriotism and national history throughout the week, viewing the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and touring the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where much of the nation’s paper currency is produced.

Students also met with South Dakota’s congressional leaders at the U.S. Capitol, including U.S. Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds. Together, the group toured many of the nation’s most treasured landmarks, including the U.S. Supreme Court and several presidential and war memorials.

At the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, students concluded their trip with NRECA-led events, where they heard from Youth Day keynote speaker Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist in U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball, who shared a message about perseverance and leadership.

“The trip was an amazing time,” said Amelia Giese from Clear Lake, S.D., with H-D Electric. “I had so much fun meeting so many new people and experiencing so many new aspects of the world. I’m going to go home and talk to everyone and say, ‘You need to sign up for this because you will make lifelong friends and have a life-changing experience.’”