The Youth Leadership Conference is a joint effort of local electric co-ops, statewides and NRECA created to provide an extension of youth activities available to states participating in the Youth Tour program. Each state is entitled to one representative on the council. The representatives are selected by statewide Youth Tour directors through a variety of methods. The new Tough Leadership Council members are announced each year during the Youth Day program in Washington, D.C.

The council is designed to provide participants with stronger leadership skills, presentation skills and a broader understanding of the rural electric cooperatives. All council members attend the NRECA Youth Leadership Conference and the NRECA Annual Meeting. In addition, council members are selected from hose states for NRECA Regional meetings to speak before the membership about their Youth Tour experiences.

The NRECA Youth Leadership Conference is held each summer following the Youth Tour which provides hands-on activities designed for promoting individual leadership development. During the Youth Leadership Conference participants select a spokesperson to address the membership of the NRECA Annual Meeting and the Youth Tour delegates the following summer.

The NRECA Annual Meeting hosts more than 12,000 rural electric members yearly and is held in a variety of major cities nationwide. The council provides assistance to the NRECA staff during the Annual Meeting, attends educational seminars and participates in a variety of programs. The have an opportunity to meet with many influential people, elected officials, NRECA’s board of directors, the CEO and administrative staff.