The 2025 Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) was held in July at University of Wisconsin-Stout with 78 youth from 17 electric cooperatives in attendance.
Pictured above, students participate in "Team Building" activities at the 2025 Youth Leadership Conference.
Several Rock Energy youth members participated in this year's YLC, including:
- Austin Carey
- Evan Carey
- Liam Carey
- Grayson Hanna-Downey
- Kelsey Krohn
- Lily Kuo
- Kelby Schneider
- Isaac Busch
Other Rock Energy members (former YLC leaders) participating were: Emma Steinke, Thomas Peters and Jayden Mosley.
Rock Energy youth member Kelby Schneider was elected to the 2025-2026 YLC Board.
Pictured above at left are the attendees at YLC 2025. Above right is Rock Energy member Emma Steinke, who spoke to attendees at the conference.
YLC is a three-day, activity-filled event aimed at building leadership skills and offering attendees a solid understanding of what electric cooperatives are, and the potential career opportunities they offer. Youth who attend YLC also have the opportunity to enter WECA’s essay contest for scholarship funds and run for YLC board, which opens up other state and national leadership opportunities.
This year’s event featured speaker Hunter Gillett, who was only 18 when he was critically injured in a plane crash in Chetek. The plane was piloted by his friend, 17-year-old Owen Knutson, who died in the crash that happened near the Red Cedar River. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the nose of the airplane hit the water at a 45-degree angle after it stalled. Gillett’s presentation at YLC was a message of hope and healing.
Also new this year at YLC was a well-received presentation by WECA Director of Government Relations Joe Mesec on “The Power of Advocacy.” The event also featured former favorites including Craig Hillier, motivational speaker & author, Ben Bella, safety & loss control manager, an etiquette dinner, and entertainment by a hypnotist.
