Jackson Energy sponsors Frankfort Youth Tour

Apr. 11—Nearly 100 high school students representing Kentucky's electric cooperatives gathered at the Kentucky Capitol on February 21 for the Frankfort Youth Tour, a program designed to offer rising young leaders a personal understanding of American history, civic affairs, and their role as citizens and members of electric cooperatives.

Welcomed by Rocky Adkins, Senior Advisor to the Governor, and Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, students toured the Capitol and attended the Senate Health Services and Senate Natural Resource and Energy committee meetings. Among interactions in the hallways with legislators and elected officials throughout the busy day, students heard from Governor Andy Beshear and Representative Samara Heavrin on issues facing Kentuckians and their legislative priorities. In June, many of these students will travel to our nation's capital during the Washington Youth Tour.

Youth Tour students provided an enthusiastic audience for the launch of the 2024 Co-ops Vote — a non-partisan effort to boost voter turnout in the areas served by rural electric cooperatives. Secretary of State Michael Adams announced his office is again partnering with co-ops to reverse the recurring trend of decreasing voter turnout.

Sophia Stover, 2023 Youth Tour alum and Co-ops Vote Ambassador, and Hardin County Clerk Brian Smith shared their experience launching the first county level Co-ops Vote project. "I implore you to see voting not just as a right, but as a privilege that generations before us fought tirelessly to secure," Stover addressed the youth tour students. "Let's honor their sacrifices by actively participating in the democratic process. Our future is in our hands, and it's up to us to shape it."

Since the inception of the youth tour program, co-ops have sponsored more than 1,800 Kentucky high school students. Jackson Energy is proud to invest in our future leaders.

Jackson Energy Frankfort Youth Tour delegates were Addison Jones, Clay County; Rebekah Jones, Jackson County; Virginia Jones, Jackson County; Emily Lutes, Lee County; Olivia Messer, Clay County; Preslee Cundiff, Lee County; Natalie Sandlin, Jackson County; and Tapanga Wood, Jackson County.