Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
By Lonnie Tucker
New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperatives power our communities. Cooperatives also empower our future leaders, and our Youth Tour program instills local high school students with the leadership skills and civic knowledge to make a brighter tomorrow.
In late June, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour gave 42 students from around the state the opportunity to rub shoulders with and learn from people who make a difference and to put those newfound skills into practice.
“The chance to visit DC, tour the U.S. Capitol, and meet with elected officials can be transformative,” said NMREC CEO Charise Swanson. “There is no better place to gain an appreciation for all of our democratic institutions than in our nation’s capital. I truly believe this is a life-changing event for our students, and I know they will return home with innovative ideas for their futures and their communities.”
The weeklong program began with participants gathering in Santa Fe. Students met many of the people working to better New Mexico. First, the group met with Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics from District 39, representing Bernalillo, Lincoln, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance, and Valencia counties. Stefanics took the group on a tour of the Senate chambers and floor, where she explained the differences between the Senate and House of Representatives—including the fact that New Mexico has 42 state senators and 70 state representatives.
Next, the group spoke in the rotunda with Rep. John Block from District 51, representing Otero County. Block talked about his work on the Standing and Interim Committee, focusing on House Consumer and Public Affairs and the New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee. He emphasized the importance of youth getting involved with politics and helping shape the future of the state.
In the cabinet room, students met with Alex Greenberg, economic development adviser to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Greenberg spoke about the Economic Development Department Office of Strategy, Science, and Technology and its plans to grow the quantum industry in the state.
Students also met with leaders from the state’s judiciary system. They visited the New Mexico Supreme Court, where they met with Chief Clerk of the New Mexico Supreme Court Elizabeth Garcia and State Law Librarian Stephanie Wilson. Garcia and Wilson discussed how the Judicial Branch of New Mexico includes 13 district courts, 54 magistrate courts, 81 municipal courts, Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, probate courts, and additional specialty courts that serve all New Mexicans.
Youth Tour participants witnessed history at a national level when they flew to Washington, D.C., for a week. Youth Tour students visited the offices of the senators and representatives from New Mexico and got to ask their staff pressing questions.
Students met Cliff Ho, legislative fellow for Sen. Martin Heinrich, and Todd Ringler, senior policy adviser for energy, climate, and the environment for Sen. Ben Ray Luján. Outside the U.S. Capitol building, they spoke with Elizabeth Arevalo, senior adviser for Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez. Each staffer took the time to answer questions thoroughly.
New Mexico’s Youth Tour students also got to provide leadership of their own. They selected one member of the group to represent New Mexico at the national Youth Leadership Council (YLC). This requires representing New Mexico at the 2025 NRECA meetings in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
The group chose Haylie Bidegain. Bidegain and her family live in Tucumcari and are members of Farmers’ Electric Cooperative. Zephaniah Guerro was selected as the YLC alternate. Zephaniah and his family live in Magdalena and are members of Socorro Electric Cooperative.
Bidegain’s first duty came during the Youth Day Program, when the more than 2,000 Youth Tour participants from co-ops around the country gathered for an evening program. She and the rest of the leadership council were introduced on stage, and the New Mexico cohort proudly cheered her on.