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.
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This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of June 8.
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After a short 2024 season and skipping a season in 2025, the Paul Bunyan Playhouse is back with a full season in 2026.
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Plus: A new conservation easement protects more than 900 acres on North Shore; Cohasset to host comprehensive plan meeting; and more Northland HS sports results.
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Megan Buffington/KAXEHarper is accused of resisting arrest by Deputy Michael Cowan on May 4, 2026 as deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant in Max, in rural northwestern Itasca County. -
Contributed/Rock Ridge Public Schools via FacebookIt was the team's sixth-straight state tournament. Singles and duos from Rock Ridge and other rural Northland schools also hit the courts in tourney action.
