Local students visit our nation’s capital on the 2026 Youth Tour trip

Ann Marie Davis, Carly Kroeger, Addison Sloan, and Ava Vanderbilt were among 44 students from across Ohio who visited Washington, D.C., and other points of interest June 14 through 20 as part of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives’ Youth Tour.

These local students are all children of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members. During the trip, the Ohio delegation joined more than 1,700 students from rural communities representing 24 states.

While in Washington, D.C., students met with members of Ohio’s congressional delegation; visited Arlington National Cemetery; toured national monuments and memorials, including the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial; and explored other historic landmarks. They participated in NRECA’s Youth Advocacy and Leadership in Action program, which develops leadership, communication, and civic engagement skills. Delegates also visited the Cardinal Power Plant in Brilliant, Ohio, to learn how our power is generated.

For more than 50 years, high school students from across the country have traveled to Washington, D.C., for Youth Tour, sponsored by their local electric cooperatives, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, and NRECA. The weeklong experience gives students an opportunity to learn about the nation’s history and government and the cooperative business model while visiting the U.S. Capitol and other sites of historical and national significance.

2026 Youth Tour delegates
Ann Marie Davis is the daughter of Eric and Theresa Davis and is a sophomore at Royalmont Academy. Her favorite extracurricular activities in school include student retreats and service trips, which allow her to grow in her faith alongside classmates. Ann Marie’s favorite activity outside of school is being a competitive trapshooter through the Amateur Trapshooting Association; Academics, Integrity, and Marksmanship Program (AIM); and the Scholastic Clay Target Program. Ann Marie achieved a spot on the 2026 AIM All-State team and the 2025 All-Scholastic National team. She is also a 4-H member involved in the Butler County Junior Fair Board and Carteens and is a 4-H camp counselor. After high school, Ann Marie plans to attend college to study meteorology and communication.

Carly Kroeger is the daughter of Adam and Angie Kroeger and is a junior at Ross High School. In high school, Carly’s favorite extracurricular activity is marching band, where she plays the clarinet. Outside of school, her favorite activity is participating in YoungLife. She works part-time at Chick-Fil-A and volunteers at the annual Jeffrey G. Hoeh Memorial Golf Outing, which funds care for those with cancer and other diseases. Carly’s favorite hobbies include fishing and reading. After high school, she hopes to attend Miami University to study marketing and intends to enroll in the Air Force ROTC program to become a public affairs officer.

Addison Sloan is the daughter of Erin Simpson-Sloan and Phil Sloan and is a sophomore at Edgewood High School. Addison’s favorite extracurricular activity in high school is playing for Edgewood High School women’s soccer team. Her favorite activities outside of school include all of her 4-H activities such as Carteens, serving on the junior fair
board, being a clover leader, and serving as a 4-H camp counselor. Addison works at Just Farmin’ in St. Clair, Ohio, which is a family-owned farm that grows organic produce such as lettuce, microgreens, and edible flowers. She volunteers at St. Matthew Lutheran Church to maintain their landscaping and placed flags and wreaths on veteran graves within our local cemeteries. After high school, Addison plans to study agricultural and resource law because she is interested in environmental sustainability, food systems, and public policy.

Ava Vanderbilt is the daughter of Albert and Tammy Vanderbilt and is a junior at Ross High School. She is co-president of her school’s HOSA – Future Health Professionals chapter. Ava is also a varsity cheerleader and loves being on the sidelines, cheering on the Rams. She works at a local greenhouse and at Dick’s Sporting Goods. In her free time, Ava enjoy being outside, walking her dog, and spending quality time with her friends and family. After graduation, she plans to attend college to become an airline pilot and hopes to further her commitment to service by joining the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps while in college.

Want to go on Youth Tour?
It’s not too early to think about next year’s Youth Tour, which is in June. Youth Tour applications will be available on our website, butlerrural.coop, beginning in November and are due at the cooperative’s office Feb. 1, 2027. You must be a high school sophomore or junior in February 2027 to apply for the trip. If you would like more information about Youth Tour, contact Andy Denny, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s community relations and marketing coordinator, at andyd@butlerrural.coop.