Since the conference’s inception in 1964, the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association has been hosting students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls each summer to teach them leadership skills and educate them on the cooperative business model. This year in late July, more than 100 students from around the state, sponsored by their local electric cooperatives, practiced the art of cooperation by engaging in interactive games and team-building activities. They also heard from motivational speakers who challenged them to explore their full potential. In addition, they elected six students to serve on the Youth Board, which will help plan and implement next year’s program. Here is what they had to say:
“I was looking through Oakdale’s magazine one day and I saw a picture from the previous year about YLC… and I saw a few kids from my school who were there and a year older than me, so I went and talked to them and I went and talked to my school counselor and now I’m here. It pays to step out of your box and your comfort zone. I think the most important thing for me was, just try new things, you got to try new things, because if you don’t, you’ll never know where you are going to be able to go.” Sam Peterson, Oakdale Electric Cooperative