NEW LONDON — Firelands Electric has announced that Jaycee Hazen and Preston Smeltzer will be representing the cooperative on the 2025 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
The daughter of Jason and Jessica Hazen of Jeromesville, Jaycee is a sophomore at Hillsdale High School, where she is active in FFA and is a member of the varsity swim team.
Jaycee is also involved in the Kindness Club and enjoys volunteering in her school community. She plans to enroll in the animal veterinary science program at the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center (ACWHCC) next fall.
Preston is the son of Jason and Jennifer Smeltzer of Perrysville. He is a junior at Loudonville High School and ACWHCC, where he serves as president of the FFA chapter and takes part in the mechanical engineering program.
Preston is a member of 4-H, Loudonville’s Junior Fair Board and Livestock Club, and several beekeeping associations. This summer, he will be participating in the tool and die apprenticeship program at Schaeffler Transmission Systems in Wooster.
Sponsored by Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, Firelands Electric, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Youth Tour is an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., that will take place June 15 to 21.
Jaycee and Preston will join approximately 50 other students from Ohio’s rural electric cooperatives as they tour the sights in and around our nation’s capital.
While groups are organized at the state level, Firelands’ delegates will meet students from other electric cooperatives across the country for Youth Day.
At this event, they will hear featured speakers who provide insight into the important role that electric co-ops play in their communities. In all, nearly 2,000 students participate in Youth Tour each year.
Students participating in Youth Tour may also be chosen to serve as a representative on the NRECA Youth Leadership Council (YLC).
One student from each state is selected for YLC and will return to Washington, D.C., in July for an additional leadership workshop that focuses on the electric cooperative industry.
Firelands’ Youth Tour contest is offered to high school sophomores and juniors who reside in a home served by the cooperative.
Candidates are evaluated on school and community activities, demonstrated leadership, and a letter of recommendation.
Up to two applicants are then chosen to represent the co-op on the annual tour. To learn more about Firelands’ youth programs, visit www.firelandsec.com/community.