Touring the capital

By Rhonda Simmons

Published: June 24, 2008

A state department hopeful got a first hand look at how things operate on Capitol Hill last week.

Erin Flathers, 17, of Rixeyville was one of six local high school students selected as the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s representatives for the 2008 National Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.

The REC and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association hosted the weeklong tour from June 15 to 19.

During the visit, students didn’t get to meet Virginia’s Rep. Eric Cantor because he was out of his office. Instead, they followed his aide and congressional page around various political hotspots.

Erin said the students did, however, get to take a picture with Virginia Sen. Jim Webb.

During the trip, the students took a cruise on the “Spirit of Washington” along the Potomac River, visited historical landmarks including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and learned about the political process.

“The whole week was amazing,” said the excited teen. “It was a great experience.”

The homeschooled senior wants to study international relations in college.

“I would love to travel and meet new people,” she said about possibility becoming an ambassador. “You might see me on Capitol Hill one day.”

In order to participate, the student’s had to complete a 500-word essay on interest in rural affairs and community involvement.

“REC is excited to provide this exciting educational opportunity to these students,” said Brian Wolfe, REC’s Youth Tour coordinator. “They (joined) their peers from all across the United States for a unique look at their nation’s capitol and government, meeting with their local congressional representatives.”

Erin’s essay, “The National Animal Identification System” landed her a winning spot on the tour.

Her paper questioned the pros and cons of inserting a microchip in animals as a way to prevent diseases.

“I decided that one because it kind of affects people of all walks of life — especially people with livestock,” she said Monday at the Culpeper REC office.

For big farmers, Erin said, the tracking device is a good thing because it allows them to monitor their animals. However for the smaller farmers, some believe that the government might “step on their toes and push their boundaries,” said Erin.

“I looked at it from both sides,” she said. “From the big commercial producer to the small farmer and how it affected and benefited both of them.”

Erin, who owns horses and goats, said she learned a lot from her research.

“I wanted to know if my privacy would be protected,” she said.

Erin, who takes dual enrollment courses at Lord Fairfax Community College, has plans to apply to George Mason University and Patrick Henry College next year.

How it got started
Former President Lyndon B. Johnson inspired the National Rural Electric Youth Tour during an annual NRECA meeting in 1957.

Johnson was a Texas senator at the time.

“If one thing goes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the nation’s Capitol where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents,” said Johnson, according to the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour Web site.

A year later, the first busloads of students began heading to the nation’s capital.

REC is a member-owned cooperative that provides services to more than 100,000 homes and businesses in portions of 16 Virginia counties.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .

Meet Erin Flathers
Age: 17
Family: Parents: George and Jennifer; siblings: Meghan, Will, Caitlin, Patrick
Education: Homeschooled; hopes to study international relations in college
Favorite subject: History
Hobbies: Riding horses, reading and writing