Youth Leadership Conference
JULY 15 – 17, 2025
University of wisconsin – Stout
About the conference
Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) is a teen leadership conference at UW-Stout centered around electric cooperatives. The conference is planned and developed by the youth board elected at the previous year’s event. Attending YLC will give you real-world skills to use in everyday life. This is an unforgettable experience, a great resume builder, and looks fantastic on a college application.
Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative (ACEC) sponsors students to attend for FREE! ACEC provides round-trip transportation from the co-op to YLC. A chaperone from the co-op attends the event as well. Students stay in the campus dorms during this 3 day, 2 night event. There is entertainment in the evenings, and students stay busy from early morning until late evening throughout the event.
Reasons to attend YLC: 
- Participate in fun and challenging activities
- Unleash your leadership potential
- Meet students from other co-ops
- Learn about the cooperative business model
- Experience what life is like on a college campus
- Explore co-op careers with industry professionals
- Practice your interviewing skills
- Listen to relatable motivational speakers
- And most of all, have fun!
WHAT IS YOUTH BOARD?
Students that attend YLC will learn how they can run to be on the youth board. Six students get elected to youth board every year. Students must be nominated by fellow YLC attendees, similar to how members run for our board of directors at our cooperative. Students running for youth board must receive signatures from fellow YLC attendees, complete an interview, and give a short speech. On the last day of YLC, it’s announced who will be on youth board for the following year’s event. These students get to plan and conduct the following year’s event, and get to go on a FREE trip to Washington D.C. for Youth Tour the following year.
Youth Tour is like YLC, but on a nation-wide level by gathering students from electric cooperatives all throughout the United States. Students get to tour different areas of Washington D.C. and interact with students throughout the nation. Even if you aren’t elected to the Youth Board, students who attend YLC still have the opportunity to go on Youth Tour by completing an essay and submitting to the cooperative.
Videos
Watch our reel on Instagram from 2023’s YLC event for a sneak peek of what YLC is all about. Or, watch the video below from 2018’s YLC event to get an insider’s perspective on YLC.
What’s the cost?
ACEC sponsors students to attend YLC for FREE! This includes staying in college dorms, meals, and transportation are included. Attendees may bring extra money if they’d like to purchase snacks or drinks from vending machines.
Who should apply
Current high school sophomores and juniors (2024/2025 school year) active in their school and community who are interested in exploring their leadership potential in our service area.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Click the button below to register. The deadline to register for YLC is Friday, June 6, 2025.
I have questions, who should I contact?
Any questions or comments can be directed to Haley Melby at (800) 831-8629, or email hmelby@acecwi.com.