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Montgomery Youth Tour

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May 1, 2025

Students Gain a Deeper Understanding of How Cooperatives, & Government Work

The students had the chance to see their government in action and meet peers from across the state.

Cade May and Lola Drinkwater were surprised by the Alabama State House, naming it as 1 of their favorite stops during this year’s Montgomery Youth Tour.

“We got to basically experience what they do, and I didn’t know our state government did that much,” Drinkwater says.

May and Drinkwater were among 13 local high school juniors representing South Alabama Electric Cooperative (SAEC) in the state’s capital for the 2025 Montgomery Youth Tour.

Each year, high school juniors representing Alabama’s electric cooperatives travel to Montgomery to learn leadership skills, see how their government works, and make connections with peers from around the state. They learn how electric cooperatives operate, meet elected officials, and tour historic sites around the capital.

The Alabama Rural Electric Association hosts the Montgomery Youth Tour, held this year on March 11 through March 13.

13 local high school juniors represented South Alabama Electric Cooperative during the 2025 Montgomery Youth Tour. The group poses for a picture on the steps of Alabama’s state archives building with the Capitol in the background. Front row, from left: Addison Welch, Mary Michael Jordan, Kelsey LeGear, Isabella Helms, Jadyn Jones, and Lola Drinkwater. Back row, from left: Mason Lee, Cade May, Tyler Whatley, Wes Templin, Carson King, Essence Marti,n and Maddy Holley.

Along with the Alabama State House, May and Drinkwater say The Legacy Museum and the Alabama State Capitol building were among the highlights they’ll remember. Overall, the experience opened their eyes.

“It surpassed my expectations,” May says. “I really enjoyed getting to meet new people, and it was a lot better than I thought it would be.”

May and Drinkwater, both 17 years old, were selected to represent SAEC June 16 through 22 at the National Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., which is sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association as well as AREA and local electric cooperatives.

May says he is looking forward to the National Youth Tour, especially after the trip to Montgomery.

“All the other students we met were really kind, and all were very personable, social people,” says May, who attends Pike Liberal Arts School. “It was easy to make friends with them. I wasn’t expecting that.”

Drinkwater, a student at Charles Henderson High School, says she was surprised by how many students attended and all the different activities held during Youth Tour.

“We learned a much deeper understanding of what co-ops do, and there were also leadership things involved and learning to work together,” she says.