Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association - WECA

06/23/2026

🎨⚡ Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association Electrical Safety Poster Contest! Third-grade students from across Wisconsin shared their creativity and electrical safety knowledge in this year’s contest. With several outstanding entries, judges awarded ties for both first and second place.

Thank you to all of the students who participated and helped spread the message of electrical safety!

The winners were:
1st Place: Teghan Serum - Riverland Energy Cooperative
1st Place: Mahima Ganesh – Barron Electric Cooperative
2nd Place: Lydia Junk – Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative
2nd Place: Rebecca Wersal - St. Croix Electric Cooperative
3rd Place: Naiya Servant – Jackson Electric Cooperative

06/22/2026

WECA is grateful for the support of our associate members and the important role they play in serving Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives. Today, we’d like to recognize E&M Consulting, Inc., producer of the 2026 WECA Member Directory.

Interested in advertising in the 2026 directory? If you are a WECA associate member or a vendor serving the electric co-op industry, reserve your space today: https://reserveyourad.com/WIECA/

Thank you, E&M Consulting, Inc., for your continued support of Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives!

06/21/2026

A huge thank you to RESCO for sponsoring our Youth Tour shirts this year! Our delegates wore them proudly all over D.C., and it was one more way they got to see how cooperatives support their communities. Your sponsorship showed them—up close—another real example of the cooperative difference in action.

06/20/2026

As our youth delegates travel home from an amazing week in D.C., we’re grateful for the chance to learn more about cooperatives and our nation’s history. Thank you to the cooperatives who made this experience possible.

06/20/2026

Final day in D.C. for our youth delegates, and what a powerful finish to an unforgettable week.

We began at Mount Vernon, walking the grounds and taking in the views that shaped so much of our nation’s early story. We then toured the Mount Vernon mansion, stepping through the very rooms where George Washington lived, led, and built a legacy that still echoes today.

From there, we visited the Petersen House, standing in the space where one of the most defining moments in American history unfolded. The exhibits walked us through the investigation into those responsible for Lincoln’s assassination — a sobering reminder of the fragility of leadership and the weight of history.

Our final stop was the Holocaust Memorial Museum, a deeply moving experience that left our group thoughtful, respectful, and changed in all the right ways. The group had the profound honor of speaking with survivor Susan Warsinger, hearing her story in her own voice.

This entire week has been incredible — full of learning, laughter, leadership, and growth. And these youth delegates? They’ve been nothing short of amazing. Their curiosity, maturity, and compassion made this trip something truly special.

06/19/2026

Wrapping up Day 4—what a truly memorable day!

We kicked off the day at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, where students were amazed by the history of flight and space exploration. From there, they continued exploring even more Smithsonian sites, including the National Museum of American History, taking in the stories, innovations, and moments that have shaped our nation.

The afternoon brought a truly meaningful experience as we visited Arlington National Cemetery. Our students had the honor of participating in a wreath-laying ceremony, showing respect and gratitude for those who have sacrificed for our country.

We wrapped up the evening with NRECA Youth Night, featuring an inspiring presentation from speaker Mike Schlappi. Students also heard from NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, NRECA President Mike Partin, and many more leaders, gaining insight into leadership and the cooperative community. Students connected with peers from across the country, and the new Youth Leadership Council was announced—congratulations to Wisconsin’s new representative, Braxtyn Marx from Vernon Electric Cooperative!

Another full day of learning, reflection, and unforgettable moments—we’re excited for what tomorrow brings!

06/18/2026

Day 3 of Youth Tour is officially in the books—and what a day it was!

We kicked things off at the White House Visitor Center, soaking in the history and significance of one of the most iconic places in the country. While access to the White House itself was blocked off, that didn’t stop Archer! With a little help (and some creative teamwork), he and a few friends managed to capture an awesome photo—no fence in sight.

From there, it was on to Capitol Hill for an unforgettable experience. The group had the incredible opportunity to sit in the gallery and witness the legislative process in action. They even saw Senator Ron Johnson cast a vote live—talk about a front-row seat to history!

The day continued with meaningful conversations as they met with staffers from Congressman Derek Van Orden’s office, and meet Senator Tammy Baldwin in person, gaining insight into how things work behind the scenes in Washington.

To top it all off, the evening ended with a fun and memorable dinner dance cruise alongside students from Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, New Mexico, Alabama, and the VA/MD/DE group. Great music, new friendships, and lots of memories made!

Another incredible day of learning, connection, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences! On to Day 4!

06/17/2026

Day 2 of the Washington, D.C. Youth Tour was packed with unforgettable experiences, meaningful history, and hands-on learning! 🇺🇸

We kicked off the morning by exploring some of our nation’s most powerful memorials, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, George Mason Memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Each stop gave our youth delegates a deeper appreciation for the leaders and ideals that have shaped our country.

Next, youth delegates participated in the FBI Experience, a self-guided tour featuring interactive exhibits, historical artifacts, and multimedia displays. Students explored topics such as counterterrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, and some of the FBI’s most famous cases—bringing real-world issues and investigations to life.

The afternoon took us to the National Mall, where we walked from the World War II Memorial all the way to the Lincoln Memorial—taking in history, reflection, and incredible views along the way.

One of the highlights of the day was our visit to the National Cooperative Bank. Youth delegates had the opportunity to learn more about the power and impact of cooperatives through a welcome from Casey Fannon (NCB) and a series of engaging “Co-op Snapshots” from industry leaders, including:

Doug O’Brien (NCBA CLUSA)
Kirstie Boyette (Cooperative Development Foundation)
Kate LaTour (CoBank)
Danielle Griffen & Becca Smith (National Council of Farmer Cooperatives)
Mike Houston (Takoma Park Silver Spring Food Co-op)
Ajowa Ifateyo (Grassroots Economic Organizing)
Alex Smith (Central Purchasing Alliance)

Special thank you to Cathy Statz (Cooperative Educator) for organizing such an incredible experience!

Their insights helped bring the cooperative model to life and showed our students the real-world impact of cooperation.

We ended the evening with the breathtaking Marine Sunset Parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial—a perfect way to wrap up an already incredible day in our nation’s capital.

Tomorrow brings another exciting opportunity as we head to Capitol Hill to meet with state representatives! 💼🇺🇸

06/16/2026

Day 1 in D.C. is in the books!

Our Washington D.C. Youth Tour delegates had a full and exciting first day! We kicked things off with an educational tour of The People’s House, where delegates got to use interactive displays and even sit in a mock-up of the Oval Office chair. They were split into groups and took part in a fun challenge—sorting photos of the White House throughout history.

From there, we explored the National Archives and visited the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, taking in even more of our nation’s history.

Next up was a guided tour of the Pentagon—an unforgettable experience (no photos allowed due to security restrictions!). While there, delegates also had the opportunity to visit the Pentagon Memorial and reflect.

We continued the day with a stop at the Air Force Memorial before wrapping up the evening with Co-ops 101, led by Trevor Clark of Vernon Electric Cooperative.

It was a busy, educational, and memorable first day—looking forward to what’s ahead!

06/05/2026

🌟 Wisconsin Youth Leadership Opportunity! 🌟

We’re excited to help develop the next generation of leaders across our state!

Thanks to a generous grant from Dairyland Power Cooperative, we are sponsoring students to attend the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association Youth Leadership Conference (YLC), July 14-16, 2026.

This hands-on conference gives students the opportunity to:
✅ Build leadership and communication skills
✅ Connect with students from across Wisconsin
✅ Learn about cooperation and community leadership
✅ Create lasting friendships and experiences

In addition to supporting students on cooperative lines, this opportunity also helps expand awareness of the cooperative business model by reaching students who are not currently served by an electric cooperative, giving them a chance to learn how co-ops impact communities.

We will be selecting:
🔹 Up to 3 FFA members
🔹 Up to 3 4 H members

🎉 The conference is FREE for all selected students!

📌 Open to students from Wisconsin who will be in high school during the 2026–2027 school year.

🗓 Deadline to apply: June 20, 2026

👉 Apply here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YLC2026

📣 Help us spread the word! If you know a student in Wisconsin who is not on electric cooperative lines and would benefit from this amazing opportunity, please share this post.

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