2026 Rural Electric Youth Tour

By Editor | April 1, 2026 |

Photo submitted
From left are CYCLE winners Elisabeth Bonine and Avery Stephens, Washington, D.C., winner Lillian Godi and alternate Alivia Peterson.

IECA

High school juniors from across Intercounty Electric’s service territory recently gathered in the auditorium at the cooperative’s Licking office to compete for an all expense paid trip to Washington D.C. Each school submitted their top four essay winners to compete; one student from each school is eligible to win the trip to Washington, D.C., two runners up win an all expenses paid trip to a leadership conference in Jefferson City, and the fourth place student is named the school’s alternate—ready to fill in a spot if any of the students are unable to attend.

One by one, each student was interviewed on topics relating to rural electric cooperatives and Intercounty. The competition was intense as each school was represented by highly motivated and intelligent students. Congratulations is due to all of these juniors, as they should truly be proud of their accomplishments as tomorrow’s leaders.

Our Washington, D.C., winners are: Lillian Godi, Licking; Adyson Dailing, Houston; Emma Purcell, Salem; Gabriel Adams, St. James; Cara Nelson, Mtn. Grove; Ashton Stoney, Rolla; Madi Bell, Summersville; Natalie Grow, Plato; and Emma Walls, Cabool.

Our CYCLE (Jefferson City) winners are: Avery Stephens and Elisabeth Bonine, Licking; Carissa Creek and Evan Edwards, Houston; Ivan Brooks and Jhonine Maralit, Salem; Autumn French and Preston Hash, St. James; Khloe Angel and Brady Harris, Mtn. Grove; Monay Lafatshe and Wyatt Stough, Rolla; Emily Jewett and Bethany Willis, Summersville; Cy Helton and Madilyn Lathrom, Plato; and Grayson Jones and Emma Webster, Cabool.

The alternates are: Alivia Peterson, Licking; Johnathon Causey, Houston; Carlnez Head, Salem; Madison Bobbitt-Harris, St. James; Aspen Shelton, Mtn. Grove; Rylie Baker, Summersville; and Brianna Smith, Cabool.

Congrats again to all these fantastic students and the coordinators at each of their schools!