Devan Smith of Salem, Ind., will participate in the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He was selected to represent the state from the 107 Indiana student delegates who

Devan Smith, Jackson County REMC member and 2017 Indiana Youth Leadership Council delegate.

participated in the June Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

Smith will attend the YLC Conference in Washington, D.C., July 15-19, where he will participate in leadership and team building exercises, meet with Capitol Hill staff members who are alumni of NRECA’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, and gain a broader understanding of electric cooperatives. He will also compete for the Council’s National Youth Spokesperson.

“Devan has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain invaluable experience alongside his peers from electric cooperatives across the country,” said Mark McKinney, general manager of Jackson County REMC. “He will develop a greater understanding of the political system and electric cooperatives, as well as essential leadership skills.”

Smith will also speak at the Indiana Electric Cooperatives annual meeting in Indianapolis in December. Finally, he will join the other YLC members at the 2018 NRECA annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn., in February where the student leaders will assist NRECA staff and participate in a variety of educational activities.

Smith is the son of Carlton and Christie Smith of Salem, Ind.