Thursday | March 27, 2025

Emma Godman, a junior at Crestwood High School, and Quinn Potter, a junior at Rushford-Peterson High School, won an educational-filled week of adventure in Washington D.C. as MiEnergy Cooperative’s Youth Tour Contest winners. Emma and Quinn will be among a group of 1,900 students sponsored by electric cooperatives from across the country to take part in the Rural Electric Youth Tour in June.

The Youth Tour was inspired in 1957 by Lyndon Johnson, then a U.S. senator from Texas, when he called on electric cooperatives to send young people to Washington, “to see what the flag stands for and represents.”

The students will meet with state and federal legislators to get an up-close look at how our government works, along with experiencing the monuments, museums and history of our nation’s capital.

To qualify for MiEnergy’s contest, students must complete an online exam. Those who score 90% or greater become finalists. All finalists are interviewed to determine a winner and an alternate.

Iowa contestants

MiEnergy’s Iowa Youth Tour winner, Emma Godman, is the daughter of David and Krista Godman, of Cresco, Iowa. Ella Knutson, of New Hampton, was selected as an alternate. Charlie Kriener and Brenna Throndson, both of New Hampton, were also finalists.

Minnesota contestants

MiEnergy’s Minnesota Youth Tour winner, Quinn Potter, is the daughter of Brian and Erin Potter, of Winona. Gage Pronschinske, of Rollingstone, was selected as an alternate. Other finalists included Kate Baumann, of Houston.

youth tour winners

Media Contact:

Brenda Tesch
Manager of Marketing and Communications
507-864-9218
btesch@MiEnergy.coop