Every four years, just as the Iowa Caucus brings an overwhelming whirlwind of media coverage, presidential candidates and nonstop campaign advertising, it also brings criticism. Each election cycle brings with it questioning of just why Iowa gets the first-in-the-nation status and if the Midwestern state truly deserves that power.

Some criticize Iowa for its lack of diversity or older population and how those factors might negatively affect the Iowa Caucus results. However, Iowa’s extremely high turnout on caucus night, especially in areas with many millennials, shows that Iowa is worthy of such a powerful position.

Republicans saw their largest-ever turnout at the Iowa Caucus this week — totalling about 180,000 Iowans. Democrats drew more than 171,000 caucusgoers to caucus for their party’s nomination.

Additionally, precincts in Ames and around Iowa State’s campus saw caucusgoers turning out in rates much higher than expected. While the Iowa Democratic Party doesn’t release voter numbers for individual precincts or counties, the Republican Party said the precinct that covers much of Campustown saw double the turnout that 2012 did. The precincts that cover both Union Drive and Richardson Court also saw almost double the Republican turnout than the previous.

Naturally, because this year’s caucuses took place during a time when students were not on winter break, this year’s turnout would be higher. However, despite this fact, voter turnout in general exceeded this year’s parties’ expectations as well.

Johnson County also saw high voter turnout, according to the Iowa City Press Citizen. Johnson County is where the University of Iowa is located and where another high concentration of Millennials live. In its article on caucus turnout, the Press Citizen reported that one precinct drew 430 people, more than double the expected 200.

Iowans were certainly active in this year’s caucuses, especially areas with schools and, by default, younger voters. These numbers are quite encouraging for Iowa and predict a bright future with political interest and action by our youngest voters. Because of these reasons, Iowa deserves to remain at the front of the pack when it comes to caucus and primary season.

The state that gets to hold its caucuses or primaries first has a major impact on the presidential election. Those who come out of the Iowa Caucuses with the highest numbers of delegates for their national convention have momentum going into the other states’ primaries and caucuses. And those who perform poorly in Iowa may have to end their campaigns.

Because the first-in-the-nation has such a major impact on the presidential elections, it must be trusted with the right state. Iowa, because of its turnout in this caucus and the hope of politically-active citizens for years to come, deserves to be trusted with this power.