Paul Bunyan Communications' 30th Youth Tour Essay Contest ends Feb. 27

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.