BEMIDJI — Area high school students are invited to enter the Paul Bunyan Communications 2026 Youth Tour Essay for a chance to tour Washington, D.C., in June.
The deadline to enter is Feb. 27, and entries can be submitted online.
To enter, high school students either 16 or 17 years old should submit a 500-word essay on why they would like to attend the Youth Tour with a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach or employer.
Eligibility also requires parents or guardians of the students to be members of the Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative.
"The tour allows youth to meet with members of Congress who represent rural constituents. They also participate in educational sessions about the Federal Communications Commission," a news release stated.
"Students visit some of the nation’s most historic sites, including the Smithsonian Museums and a beautiful night tour of Washington, D.C."
The cooperative has sent one local high school student to the nation's capital for this tour each year since 1996. Recent winners were Joseph Loehlein of Turtle River, Julia Frenzel of Blackduck, Michael Van Horn of Blackduck and Amelisa Scherling of Bemidji.
“By equipping our youth with world-class connectivity ... and connecting them with cultural and educational experiences like the Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour, we aim to inspire students to build their futures here at home and become engaged members of our rural communities,” stated Brian Bissonette, marketing supervisor at Paul Bunyan Communications.
The Foundation for Rural Service organizes the annual Youth Tour, which features students from across the country. It's a subsidiary of the Rural Broadband Association, of which Paul Bunyan Communications is a member.
-
Lorie Shaull/KAXEExtreme fire conditions caused some of the 17 wildfires burning in the Superior National Forest to rapidly spread July 13-14, 2026. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEThe library matched the anonymous matching donation for $30,000 it received in June 2026. A larger fundraising goal is aimed at increasing public hours in 2027. -
Contributed/University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering CenterDue to smoke from Boundary Waters wildfires, the MPCA issued air quality alerts for large parts of Minnesota. The alert lasts until at least Friday, July 16, 2026. -
And: An Aitkin peat processor fined for air pollution control violations. -
Contributed/National Weather Service Forecast Office DuluthWhile it is expected to cool off slightly on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, temperatures will stay high enough that additional heat advisories may be put in place. -
Contributed/via InciWebNearly 9,000 acres are estimated to be burning in the BWCA as of July 13, 2026, and the closure is for public safety. The Boundary Waters is not expected to fully reopen this summer. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXESevere drought is present in at least 11% of Minnesota and another 18% is in moderate drought. The drought conditions are mostly seen in Northern Minnesota. -
Contributed/RDNE Stock project via PexelsPrairie Pines Childcare Center, the Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation were awarded grants from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development. -
Even with green plants and recent rainfall, large portions of the Northland are classified as in moderate or severe drought.
-
And: Four Northland organizations recieve child care grants; men encouraged to wear sunscreen and get skin checks; and Eveleth plans to replace the "Big Stick."
