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This content was featured in the September 2026 issue of Kansas Country Living magazine.
Building Young Leaders 2026
A Note from Samuel
Attending the 2026 Cooperative Leadership Youth Camp as FreeState Electric Cooperative’s representative is honestly an experience I’m never going to forget.
I met so many people from Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma, and the friendships I made were probably my favorite part of the whole week. We did leadership activities together, built a mock cooperative, played volleyball, went white-water rafting on the Colorado River and I even had a good time at the Neon Dance and talent show.
Touring the Craig Power Station was easily one of the coolest parts of camp. It was crazy seeing how electricity actually gets generated and how the whole facility runs. We also watched a high-voltage safety demonstration, which really showed how serious safety is in this line of work. Getting to talk with people who work all different jobs at electric co-ops made me realize how much teamwork goes into keeping the lights on every single day, and it opened my eyes to a lot of career paths I hadn’t thought about before.
I also learned about the Cooperative Advantage — basically how an electric co-op is owned by its members instead of outside investors, so it’s all about serving the community with reliable, affordable electricity instead of profit.
I was honored to be elected as a 2027 camp ambassador. This camp helped me grow as a leader, gave me friends I never would have met and taught me just how important electric cooperatives really are. I am grateful to FreeState Electric Cooperative for giving me this opportunity.
SAMUEL MURPHY
Samuel Murphy, FreeState’s delegate for the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp, is the son of Sam and Rebecca Murphy.
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The 49th Annual Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp (CYLC) was held July 10-16 near scenic Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The camp brought together 80 high school student leaders from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming, sponsored by 46 electric and agriculture cooperatives.
FreeState’s 2025 delegate, Charlesey Coffin (left), was one of six 2025 campers who returned as camp ambassadors. Samuel Murphy was elected as an ambassador this year, and will return to camp in 2027.
Above: Throughout camp, students gained hands-on experience in cooperative business operations by forming and managing a mock candy cooperative. They elected a board, appointed a general manager, created committees and held daily membership meetings, mirroring the real-world structure of member-owned cooperatives.
“Seeing people step up, try new things and become more confident throughout the week was inspiring. It showed me what can happen when you’re willing to get outside your comfort zone,” Samuel said.
Educational sessions covered leadership development, conflict resolution and co-op career opportunities. Highlights included electric safety demonstrations by cooperative linemen, a live raptor presentation from HawkQuest, and a tour of the Craig Power Station.
CYLC offered more than just professional growth opportunities; it fostered a sense of camaraderie and adventure. Students experienced the charm of downtown Steamboat Springs and braved the rapids of the Colorado River on a rafting trip. Recreational highlights included a volleyball tournament, swimming, a talent show and a dance.