A select group of Kentucky high school seniors got a high-powered start to their school year on Tuesday with the first ever Virtual Youth Leadership Summit. Blue Grass Energy was pleased to sponsor two students attending the summit; Tara Howard and Catherine Terrill, both from Madison County. 
 
The students participated in the online forum highlighted by question and answer sessions with five federal lawmakers, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Rand Paul, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, U.S. Rep. James Comer and U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie.

The event was held online because for a second consecutive year, the electric co-op program’s Washington Youth Tour and Frankfort Youth Tour were canceled due to the pandemic. With the support of a grant from the Cooperative Finance Corporation, the summit educated students on electric co-ops and welcomed elected leaders who shared their varying perspectives on co-ops, Covid-19 response strategies and other pressing issues.
 
State officials who addressed the students on the video call included Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Secretary of State Michael Adams, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and Treasurer Allison Ball.  Rep. Samara Heavrin, a Youth Tour alumna, joined the other elected leaders encouraging the students to stay engaged in civic affairs.

Supporting our young members is just one of the many ways we are making life better, the cooperative way.