2026 Youth Leadership Conference Shapes Future Leaders and Champions Cooperative Principles

Altamaha EMC-Fiber, along with other electric membership corporations and cooperative businesses from across the state, supported the 2026 Georgia Cooperative Council Youth Leadership Conference, held July 6–10 at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington.

Three students sponsored by Altamaha EMC/ Fiber were selected to join 30 of Georgia’s young leaders at this year’s conference. To qualify for the conference students must have completed their freshman year of high school, demonstrate strong leadership potential and be selected by their local cooperative. The local representatives included Jocelyn Harvill of Vidalia High School, Hartley Williamson of Montgomery County High School, and Khloe Patterson of Montgomery County High School.

For five days attendees participated in activities designed to cultivate leadership abilities, foster teamwork and deepen their understanding of how cooperatives contribute to their communities and beyond.

“Investing in programs like this is an investment in the future of our communities,” said Will Ne-Smith of Altamaha EMC/ Fiber. “These students are tomorrow’s leaders, and it’s inspiring to see how they embrace the cooperative spirit of collaboration and service.”

The conference agenda was packed with interactive workshops, team-building exercises, and leadership development sessions. Students also learned about the cooperative business model, which offers a unique approach to business that emphasizes member ownership, community focus and democratic governance. Key highlights of the week included visits to Walton EMC in Monroe and the Godfrey Dairy in Madison, where students saw firsthand how cooperatives operate in both the electric and agricultural sectors. Outdoor activities like a high ropes course, mud course and a slip-and-slide challenge helped students build trust, communication and teamwork skills.

Inside the classroom, students completed personality assessments, practiced public speaking and worked together to form and operate their own mock cooperatives. On the final day, each team presented its cooperative concept to the entire group, showcasing the leadership, creativity and collaboration they developed throughout the week.

“The Youth Leadership Conference is one of those life-changing experiences that students carry with them for years to come,” said Andy Paul, public relations representative for Georgia EMC. “It’s not just about learning how cooperatives work. It’s about discovering how leadership, teamwork and service can create meaningful, lasting change in their communities.”

The Georgia Cooperative Council is a statewide, nonprofit association representing approximately 50 cooperatives, including those in the farm supply, finance, electric, telecommunications, cotton and dairy sectors. The Council promotes cooperative education, leadership development, and collaboration across Georgia’s cooperative community. The Council organized the 2026 Georgia Cooperative Youth Leadership Conference and participating EMCs this year included Altamaha EMC, Central Georgia EMC, Flint Energies, Georgia Transmission Corp., Grady EMC, Irwin EMC, Jackson EMC, Middle Georgia EMC, Ocmulgee EMC, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Okefenoke REMC, Rayle EMC, Southern Rivers EMC, Sumter EMC and Walton EMC.Altamaha EMC/ Fiber is a member-owned electric cooperative providing reliable power and related services to 14,678 consumers across Emanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Toombs and Treutlen.

For more information about the conference, visit www.georgiaco-op.com.