Prairie Public is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest, an annual program designed to encourage children’s creativity and strengthen reading and writing skills through hands-on learning.
This year, children in kindergarten through fifth grade from across Prairie Public’s broadcast region submitted original stories – many inspired by the suggested theme, What does America mean to you? This year’s theme was introduced in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and the PBS documentary The American Revolution.
Entries were evaluated by Prairie Public staff along with a panel of local teachers and librarians. First place, second place, and third place winners were selected in each grade level.
2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest Winners
Kindergarten
- 1st place: “The American Farmer” by Carter B. — Bainville, Mont.
- 2nd place: “George Washington” by Nico F. — Moorhead, Minn.
- 3rd place: “A President’s Story” by Hyker H. — Fargo, N.D.
First Grade
- 1st place: “The Cardiologist” by Wallace K. — Grand Forks, N.D.
- 2nd place: “The American Revolution” by Liam B. — Bismarck, N.D.
- 3rd place: “Things I Care About” by Walter G. — Hallock, Minn.
Second Grade
- 1st place: “Celebrating America in My Small Town” by Aubrey B. — Bainville, Mont.
- 2nd place: “The Butterfly Promise” by Ingrid E. — Williston, N.D.
- 3rd place: “What America Means to Me — Bees” by Emma D. — Devils Lake, N.D.
Third Grade
- 1st place: “The Beat of Pride” by Sawyer K. — Fort Totten, N.D.
- 2nd place: “Deborah Sampson: A Female Soldier in Disguise” by Rachael T. — Grand Forks, N.D.
- 3rd place: “The Popcorn Plan” by Lena C. — Grand Forks, N.D.
Fourth Grade
- 1st place: “The Name Changer” by Sam P. — Bismarck, N.D.
- 2nd place: “Freedom: As Bright As The Morning’s Light” by Noelle-Christy B. — Crosby, N.D.
- 3rd place: “America is Amazing” by Nora J. — Fargo, N.D.
Fifth Grade
- 1st place: “Hopes and Dreams” by Evelyn D. — Fargo, N.D.
- 2nd place: “The Secret of Hettlock Hill” by Lexington W. — Bismarck, N.D.
- 3rd place: “Interviews” by Kieran S. — Fargo, N.D.
Every child who entered the contest received a Certificate of Achievement. Winners also received prizes, and their stories are featured on Prairie Public’s website. First-Place Winners will additionally have the opportunity to read their stories on Prairie Public’s statewide radio network.
The Prairie Public PBS KIDS Writers Contest is part of Prairie Public’s ongoing commitment to educational outreach and literacy development for children and families across the region.
For more information and to read the winning stories, visit prairiepublic.org/writerscontest.
Prairie Public’s 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest is sponsored in part by a grant from Mathwig Family Charitable Trust.
About Prairie Public
Prairie Public, a nonprofit public media organization and member station of PBS and NPR, provides content and services utilizing television, radio, and digital platforms. Prairie Public is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, and serves the state of North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, and southern Manitoba. For more information, visit prairiepublic.org.