Youth Tour Recap

Seven local students represented Butler Rural Electric Cooperative this year during the annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in our nation’s capital. They were among 46 students from throughout Ohio who visited Washington, D.C., June 15 through 21.

The students joined more than 1,200 students from electric co-ops across the country who visited the U.S. capital as part of the Youth Tour trip. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s Community Relations and Marketing Coordinator Andy Denny also attended the trip as a chaperone.

Youth Tour is a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., that gives exceptional high school students the opportunity to make new friends from across the country and see many of the famous Washington, D.C., sights. Youth Tour delegates are children of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members who completed an application and interview to attend the trip.

Students met with members of their Congressional delegation, visited Arlington National Cemetery, and toured the Gettysburg Battlefield. During the trip, delegates also visited the Cardinal Power Plant in Brilliant, Ohio, to learn how our power is generated.

2025 Youth Tour delegates
Gracie Abrams is the daughter of Christy and Steve Abrams. She is a senior at Talawanda High School, where she is involved in student council and soccer. Gracie enjoys riding horses and hiking and works at Millville Family Dentistry. After high school, she plans to major in biology at the University of South Carolina while being in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. After that, Gracie plans to further her education in dental school to become a dentist.

Wallace Howard is the son of Cindy and Paul Howard. He is a junior at Talawanda High School and is involved in marching band and 4-H. Wallace works at The Benison Event Center and volunteers with the Southeast Llama Rescue and the Salvation Army pantry. His favorite hobbies include raising chickens and gaming. After high school, Wallace would like to attend college and major in engineering.

Abrielle Marcum is the daughter of Kayla Marcum. She is a junior at Talawanda High School. Abrielle tutors children in the community and is involved in the Big Brother Big Sisters program. Her favorite hobbies are reading, sewing, cooking, and baking. After high school, Abrielle would like to become an elementary school English teacher and hopes to teach children learning English as a second language. Her goal is to attend the Ohio State University or Bowling Green State University.

Brayden Meade is the son of Anna and Ron Meade. He is a junior at Ross High School, where he is involved in marching band, show choir, and track and field. Brayden volunteers with JEE Foods and Matthew 25 Ministries and his favorite hobbies are playing the piano and guitar. After high school, he plans to attend college to pursue a career in music.

Luke Minnick is the son of Mike and Rhonda Minnick. He is a senior at Fairfield Senior High School and is involved in marching band and Boy Scout Troop 902. Luke has volunteered with Hope’s Closet, Matthew 25 Ministries, and the Animal Adoption Foundation. His hobbies include reading, spending time outdoors, writing music, and woodworking. After high school, Luke plans to attend college to major in physics or music.

Gracie Rumpler is the daughter of Della and Lenny Rumpler. She is a senior at Talawanda High School, where she is involved in cheerleading. Gracie enjoys attending the One Eighty Youth Group at her church, dancing, and spending time with friends. She works at Woodland Country Manor and babysits. After high school, Gracie plans to attend college to become an ultrasound technician.

Chloey Ruoff is the daughter of Allen and Carrie Ruoff. She is a junior at Talawanda High School and is involved in FFA, dance, softball, and 4-H. Chloey works as a camp counselor and babysits. After high school, she would like to attend college to major in agricultural business.

Youth Tour history
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative has sent students on the Youth Tour trip since 1980. Offering opportunities like Youth Tour is part of our commitment to the communities we serve. By encouraging the success of these young people, we hope to prepare them for leadership roles in our community. Building long-term relationships with youth and educating them about the significance of electric cooperatives helps ensure the success of our own cooperative.

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. 2, 2026. You must be a high school sophomore or junior in February 2026 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.