The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) was created to provide an extension of youth leadership activities available to states participating in the Youth Tour program. This 45-person delegation is composed of one delegate from each state with an electric cooperative or public power district. The council participates in a carefully curated educational curriculum designed to build leadership and public speaking skills and enhance the delegates’ knowledge of the energy industry and the cooperative business model.
All YLC members attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's (NRECA) PowerXChange meeting, which hosts more than 10,000 electric cooperative leaders. YLC members assist NRECA staff during the event, attend educational seminars and participate in a variety of programs. They have an opportunity to meet with many influential people, including elected officials and NRECA’s board of directors, chief executive officers and administrative staff.
In addition, North Dakota’s YLC representative is asked to attend the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives’ (NDAREC) annual meeting and give a report. Once the annual meeting agenda is finalized, the date of the YLC report will be confirmed.
Click here to learn more about this exceptional program.
If selected to serve as North Dakota's 2025-2026 YLC representative, you must be available to attend the following events:
- July 21-25, 2025
Youth Leadership Council Basecamp, Washington, D.C.
- Feb. 10 or 11, 2026
2026 NDAREC Annual Meeting, Mandan
- March 6-11, 2026
2026 NRECA PowerXChange in Nashville, Tennessee
Expenses will be paid by North Dakota's electric cooperatives.