Annaliese Schmitt, a junior at Huron High School, and Ellie Kempf, a junior at James Valley Christian School, have been selected as the 2026 Rural Electric Youth Tour winners from Dakota Energy Cooperative. Annaliese and Ellie will join other South Dakota winners and youth from across the United States for a week of activities in Washington, D.C., in June of this year. Their days will be filled with educational seminars to learn more about rural electrification and the cooperative way of doing business. They will also visit with our Congressional Delegation and tour the historical sites of Washington, D.C., connecting with the past and feeling proud of their heritage. The South Dakota Rural Electric Association coordinates the tour.

Annaliese is the daughter of Darielle and Mike Schmitt, Huron, and Ellie is the daughter of Amy and Jeff Kempf, Huron. Dakota Energy wishes them the best for their upcoming tour.