Area High School Students age 16 or 17 are encouraged to enter the Paul Bunyan Communications Essay Contest for a chance to attend the 2026 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 1-5, with all expenses paid by Paul Bunyan Communications.
To enter students need to submit a short essay, no more than 500 words in length, on why they would like to attend the Youth Tour and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or employer. Students must be 16 or 17 years of age and in high school with their parent/guardian a member of Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative.
Entries can be submitted online at paulbunyan.net/youthtour
The deadline for entries is Friday, February 27.
The trip features a comprehensive overview of the telecommunications industry, including careers in telecom, the critical role telecommunications plays in rural America, and how legislative and regulatory decisions affect the industry. 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 (FCC). Students visit some of the nation’s most historic sites, including the Smithsonian Museums and a beautiful night tour of Washington D.C.
“By equipping our youth with world-class connectivity with Internet speeds up to 10 Gig and connecting them with cultural and educational experiences like the FRS Youth Tour, we aim to inspire students to build their futures here at home and become engaged members of our rural communities,” said Brian Bissonette, Marketing Supervisor at Paul Bunyan Communications.
Paul Bunyan Communications has participated in sending a local high school student to the Youth Tour since 1996.
Recent Youth Tour winners include Joseph Loehlein of Turtle River (2025), Julia Frenzel of Blackduck (2024), Michael Van Horn of Blackduck (2023), and Amelia Scherling of Bemidji (2022)
The Foundation for Rural Service is dedicated to informing and to improving the quality of life throughout rural America. Each year, it organizes the Youth Tour, designed to educate rural youth about the telecommunications industry and the federal political process. The FRS is a subsidiary of the NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association of which Paul Bunyan Communications is a member.