High school students will represent Bluebonnet on annual trip this summer to Washington, D.C.

By Sidni Carruthers

Two high school students with lofty career goals have been selected to represent Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative on the annual government youth tour this summer in Washington, D.C. They will join hundreds of other students representing electric cooperatives from across Texas and the nation for a 10-day visit to the nation’s capital.

Johnique ‘‘J.T.’’ Thomas, a junior at Manor Early College High School, and Tara Williams, a junior at Colorado River Collegiate Academy in Bastrop, were selected to represent Bluebonnet. Emma Smith, a senior at Lexington High School, is the alternate representative who would join the tour if one of the winners is unable to attend.

Thomas and Williams will each receive a $1,000 scholarship in addition to the all-expenses paid Government-in-Action Youth Tour planned for June 11-19. While in D.C., the students will visit historic sites and the U.S. Capitol, meet members of Congress and attend events hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

The recipients were selected in March from among 19 applicants. 

Thomas, 17, of Manor, is a standout athlete for the Manor Mustangs and is excited about playing college football after he graduates from high school in 2024. He plays center and has been a captain of the football team for the last year. Thomas is parliamentarian for the school’s National Honor Society and director of community service for the school’s Leo Club, the youth organization of the Lions Club. 

After college, Thomas hopes to become a maternal-fetal medicine physician — an obstetrician with three additional years of training who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. This became his career goal, he said, when he learned that pregnancy is more risky in the United States than in other high-income nations. He also wants to better understand how government impacts health care.

Williams, also 17, of Bastrop, is the student council president at the collegiate academy and serves on the school’s student superintendent advisory council. In 2021, she reached the district level of University Interscholastic League speech and debate competitions. She credits those competitions with giving her confidence in public speaking and critical thinking, as well as the ability to respect others’ opposing opinions.

Williams participates in competitive dance through Liberty Dance Center in Bastrop. 

She plans to attend a four-year university to study architecture with a career goal of preservation and conservation of historic buildings. She has always loved historic architecture, she said, adding that it saddens her “to see historic homes and buildings that are abandoned or deteriorating.” 

Smith, 18, of Lexington is involved in several school organizations, including the National Honor Society and student council. She volunteers at her church, is active in the Lee County 4-H program and volunteers weekly at the local senior citizens center. Smith plans to attend Sam Houston State University in the fall to study political science and legal studies, with hopes of becoming an attorney and lobbyist in the oil and gas industry.

This will be the first visit to Washington, D.C., for both Thomas and Williams. 

Thomas wants to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “I wrote about [the memorial] in a short essay about my great uncle who was sent to Vietnam and never came back,” the Manor student said. “I always heard stories about him and the person he was, and he has been a role model to me even though I never got to meet him. He is the man I want to grow up to be.” 

Connecting to military history in D.C. is also on Williams’ list, because her family has ties to the armed forces. But she is most interested in seeing Capitol Hill and some of the city’s many museums, she said, describing herself as a “museum nerd.”

On their youth tour applications, students were asked to list their school accomplishments, extracurricular activities, leadership experience and community service work. They were also asked to submit a video in which they answered the question: “What is the greatest energy issue facing your generation, and how can youths be a part of the solution?” 

During his video, Thomas spoke of the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and, more specifically, how that impacts communities and families with low incomes. “The rising prices of energy have a direct hand in the rising cost of everything else, which I am seeing playing out in my community,” he said. The solution for this, he proposed, is accessibility to renewable energy options for those communities and families. 

In her video, Williams also touched on energy insecurity in local communities, and referenced severe weather in the region in recent years that has led to energy emergencies. “It is [my] generation’s duty and responsibility to collaborate with industry experts, as well as lawmakers, so that we can work towards ending energy [insecurity] for good,” she said.

Before leaving for D.C., the two Bluebonnet student representatives will join other tour members from across the state for a visit to the Texas Capitol and the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

This is the 57th year for the youth tour program. It has more than 50,000 alumni, including CEOs, state and national elected officials, and countless business and community leaders.

The Bluebonnet region is filled with great places to explore and enjoy

Whether you love history or antiques, the great outdoors or local art exhibits, shopping or grabbing a bite to eat, the Bluebonnet Region is filled with fun and interesting places. Check out our series of profiles of the towns that make Central Texas a great place to spend a day, or a lifetime.

SPEND A DAY IN LULING»

SPEND A DAY IN GIDDINGS»

SPEND A DAY IN FAYETTEVILLE»

SPEND A DAY IN CALDWELL»

SPEND A DAY IN SMITHVILLE

SPEND A DAY IN CHAPPELL HILL

SPEND A DAY IN MANOR

Rich in history, it's home to many Czech milestones and much more

By Alyssa Meinke

Fayetteville, just a 20-minute drive east of La Grange on Texas 159 in eastern Fayette County, is so rich in history that 345 properties there are on the National Register of Historic Places. The community has a past rooted in Native American settlements, followed in the early 1800s by settlers drawn by Stephen F. Austin’s land grants, who were followed by many Czech immigrants. The town went by several names, including Lick Skillet – a lighthearted reference to community festival latecomers who arrived after the food was gone — so all they could do was “lick the skillet.” It was officially named Fayetteville in 1844, after the North Carolina hometown of prominent local Republic of Texas citizen Philip J. Shaver. The community was home to many Czech milestones, including the state’s first Czech Protestant church and Texas’ first Czech band, the Baca Family Band, formed in 1892. The town of 250 still celebrates Lickskillet Days (don’t be late!) in October, ArtWalk in May, and Antiques on the Square in March and September.

WHAT TO DO

Start with a town square walking tour: Begin at the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum, 119 W. Washington St., to see exhibits and get a tour brochure. It is open Sunday-Friday by appointment, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. most Saturdays, 979-249-6249. Check out the wood-frame Precinct 2 Courthouse, built in 1880 in the square; the Grand Fayette Hotel, built in 1900, with its wine bar/restaurant and store, 201 W. Fayette St.; and the Red & White Inn and Gallery, built in 1835.

Stop and sip at Blue Mule Winery’s tasting room and see its vineyard, 8127 FM 1291, noon-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, noon-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. If you prefer whiskey, try the handcrafted spirits at Rek Hill Distillery, 2737 E. Texas 159, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday. 

View art displays or attend lectures on art, history or technology at Arts for Rural Texas, 114 N. Live Oak St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Get information on upcoming events at artsforruraltexas.org.

Lake Fayette, also known as the Fayette County Reservoir, northwest of town, is a 2,000-acre hot spot for bass fishing, boating and swimming. Oak Thicket Park, 4819 W. Texas 159, has 87 acres for water activities, hiking, biking or camping; day passes $7 a person, $4 for 65 and older, free for kids 12 and younger. Although partially under construction, Park Prairie Park, 1250 Park Prairie Road, features a boat ramp that remains open; visit Oak Thicket Park for day passes, $7 a person, $4 for 65 and older, free for kids 12 and younger.

GRAB A BITE

 Dining options ranked in Tripadvisor’s top restaurants are:

Orsak’s café, offering country cooking, including chicken fried steak, 121 W Fayette St., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 

Joe’s Place, 120 N. Live Oak St., touts its all-American menu of steaks, seafood, burgers and more, 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday,  9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

Other dining options include The 159 Junction, 3024 E. Texas 159, which also offers live music, and Pivo’s Ice House, 1564 FM 1291.

STOP AND SHOP 

Several shops around the historic courthouse are owned by local entrepreneurs. They include: 

The Vintage Rose Market, 124 N. Live Oak St., sells antiques, home decor and clothing; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.

Yesterday’s Past specializes in antiques, 112 N. Live Oak St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. 

Get a fresh floral bouquet and home goods at Bloom & Co., 126B N. Live Oak St., 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Other shopping options include The Spoiled Quilter, 405 E. Main St.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Country Glam Antiques and Treasures, 115 W. Fayette St., and Fayetteville Vintage Gallery, 202 N. Live Oak St.

TIPS FROM LOCALS 

Take home fresh food from Yonder Way Farm. It offers grass-fed beef, pasteurized chicken and pork, eggs, bread, coffee, dairy and cooking oils. Place an order online at yonderwayfarm.com and arrange to pick it up by calling owners Jason and Lynsey Kramer at 979-530-4444. 

The Fayetteville area is brimming with bluebonnets in the spring. Some of the best places to see them are along FM 955 southwest of Fayetteville. You can also visit the “viral” bluebonnet field 6 miles southwest of Fayetteville on U.S. 71, just east of Kitchen Lane. On a good spring afternoon, as many as 100 people may be taking family pictures there. 

Get more information from fayettevilletxmuseum.org and greaterfayettevillechamber.org.

This is a part of a series of guides on spending a day in one of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s service area communities.

Harlye Bonorden contributed to this story.