Wesley Marten and Leslie Martens of Crest Ridge High School were among the 70 high school students from across Missouri who participated in the Missouri Electric Cooperative Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience program.
The CYCLE conference was hosted virtually and at co-op locations July 21-23 across the state.
The delegates were sponsored by West Central Electric Cooperative.
Each summer, an action-filled three days provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, the cooperative form of business and being a leader.
“The CYCLE Conference is the highlight of the summer for many students no matter the format and we’re proud to have the best and brightest become a part of our CYCLE family,” Chris Massman, vice president of member services for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, said.
The conference kicked off with motivational speaker Dan Meers, who entertains people and speaks to them about the power of positivity. Meers is the man in the KC Wolf mascot costume at all Kansas City Chiefs games and when he’s not entertaining 40,000 fans on game day, he travels the country speaking to groups and telling his story.
Highlights included the youth visiting with Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe about Missouri politics.
Other events included participation in electrical-related activities, including learning to make an extension cord.
The delegates also heard from representatives from State Technical College, Western Governors University and the University of Missouri.
Participants heard leadership and positivity messages from Johnie Hendrix, a training instructor for the co-op’s statewide, and Travis Mathes, the manager of member services and government affairs at Lewis County Electric Cooperative.
The CYCLE program is in its 18th year and is a recipient of the National Community Youth Service award for the top youth program among all electric cooperatives in the country.
