Bodvig announced as Youth Tour representative

Each June, students are immersed in a one-of-a-kind experience in Washington, D.C., through the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. KEM Electric Cooperative chose one local applicant to represent the cooperative on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Applicants are asked to answer the essay question, “As member-owned organizations, electric cooperatives are always seeking new ways to engage their members. What are some ways electric cooperatives can better communicate and connect, especially with students and young adults?”

KEM Electric announces Keylee Bodvig, the daughter of Korey and Tiffany, will be representing KEM Electric on the exciting weeklong trip. Keylee is a junior at Kidder County High School and is active in one-act play, choir, volleyball and track. Outside of school, she enjoys baking and babysitting as well as working at a day care.

“I enjoy traveling, so I thought I may as well try and apply,” Keylee says.

She says she looks forward to the whole experience, but wants to see the Holocaust Museum to learn more about that time in history.

Keylee and other North Dakota electric cooperative representatives will visit Washington, D.C., in June. Follow Keylee’s journey on KEM Electric’s Facebook and Instagram.

Keylee’s essay: 

New ways to engage 

When I read the question, it got me thinking about different ways to get teens and young adults involved. I came up with a few ideas I think could really help. One thing I thought of right away was using social media and its trends to make it fun and a safe way to interact. A few others are inviting local schools to tour the KEM facility to check out the different jobs, and also doing a junior KEM board. These are some methods for teens to engage in the community through KEM.

The first idea is to engage with the teens through social media and its trends. Most teens have phones and use social media like TikTok or Instagram. Most teens use TikTok or Instagram every day. When a trend goes viral, lots of people see it, watch it and want to copy it. Tons of people see it in a short amount of time. If KEM were to engage with these social media trends, I think lots of teens would see the videos and become interested in how KEM works! I feel like teens would notice KEM and want to learn more about it. If KEM were to participate in these social media trends, it would be a really fun way to show that KEM is more than just a business, but a really fun place of work, and a great way for them to imagine having a future in the industry. Following or starting trends would make a difference in the electric business and among young adults and teens. I think it would be great for KEM and the teens.

The second way KEM can engage with young people is by inviting schools to tour the facility. KEM can invite classes or groups of young adults to tour and to show them the different ways KEM makes a difference in the community. They could watch lineworkers climb poles and fix power lines, watch them fix technical problems, watch customer service help customers and watch how managers keep the place running. As a teen, I feel like my peers learn best by seeing and doing. Watching KEM employees work and letting us use our hands to learn are great ways to get young people involved. Letting young people see these jobs in person could inspire them to pursue careers as a lineworker, a business degree, customer service or even becoming a manager.

The last way KEM can engage with teens and young adults is by having a junior board. The junior board would be able to sit in on some board meetings and learn how the KEM board works and operates. They could get to know some of the board members and understand why it's important to be part of these boards, and they get to learn how decisions are made. Having a junior board, they could also meet every so often to learn more about KEM and its everyday operations. They could also help come up with ideas to help the community and KEM. This board would also teach them how important KEM is in so many different communities. Teens being able to serve on the junior board would teach them leadership skills, teamwork and so many other great skills!

In conclusion, there are many different ways KEM can connect with young adults and teens. Social media trends help spread the word about KEM and all the good things they do. Inviting schools and young adults to tour the facility can show them what KEM is all about. My last idea is a junior board that can help the community, teach young adults and teens how to lead, show them how a great company runs and help so many different communities. These ways really help teens and show them what they don't know about KEM, how KEM works and what KEM really does for its customers and communities.