Deadline approaching for all-expenses paid Washington DC Youth Tour

Garden Valley Technologies is accepting applications for the 2021 Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. The deadline to apply is less than two weeks away.

Each year Garden Valley Technologies considers sponsoring up to two youth delegates to attend the NTCA Foundation for Rural Services (FRS) Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. High school students, age 16 or 17 at the time of the tour, and who receive services from Garden Valley are encouraged to write an essay-style letter of application explaining why they are interested in attending and why they should be chosen to represent Garden Valley Technologies at the youth tour. 

The FRS Youth Tour will be held in Washington, D.C., on June 5 through June 9, 2021. The Youth Tour introduces the students to the telecommunications industry within a legislative context. The two high school students chosen to represent the cooperative will be expected to visit Garden Valley Technologies in Erskine prior to their trip, and submit a photo and a report following their trip.

You can apply directly online at the GVT website. Please complete & submit the form by February 12, 2021. 

Garden Valley has sponsored two Grygla students in the past: Jaden Kiesow in 2018 and Layla Jelle in 2019. Their experiences are shared below in a youth tour summary they each submitted to the Grygla Eagle Newspaper and Garden Valley for print at the time of their trips. Hopefully re-sharing their experiences will encourage our youth to apply for this amazing opportunity.

Garden Valley sends Kiesow to our nation’s capital Written by Jaden Kiesow, June 2018

Garden Valley Technologies sponsored two junior students from the Garden Valley service area to attend the Foundation for Rural Services Youth Tour in Washington, DC.  I was chosen by their committee, along with Bayli Dukek from Bagley. To qualify, I wrote a letter of application and described my academic, extracurricular, and personal interests and goals.

We left from the Bemidji Airport at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2 and arrived at Arlington, Virginia at 2:00 p.m. We checked into our hotel the Hyatt Arlington Crystal City, shopped for a short time and met during dinner to discuss our plans for the trip.

The next day it was pouring rain and there were coastal flood warnings. We visited the Arlington National Cemetery where we watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was impressed how precise and dedicated the guards were, even during the rain storm. There were rows and rows of soldier’s graves. It made a moving impression on me. We also saw President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite and visited Arlington House.

Next, we visited the Smithsonian. We first viewed the National Museum of the American Indian. Then we went to National Gallery of Art.  There we saw a painting by Leonardo DaVinci. Next went visited the Museum of Natural History and saw the Hope Diamond valued at 250 million dollars. Our next visit was to the National Museum of American History.

That evening we took pictures in front of the White House and took the Washington City Night Tour. The night tour included the White House, WWII, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials and the Lincoln and Washington Monuments. I really thought the Washington Monument was impressive.

On Monday, June 4, we went to the Capitol for a tour and for educational sessions presented by Capitol Hill staff members who spoke on how government processes work. It’s a beautiful building and one we should all be proud of. We also took the tunnels to the Library of Congress. The next stop was the Jefferson Memorial, followed by the Franklin Memorial. That evening we went bowling.

On Tuesday, June 5, we visited the FCC where the staff talked to us about networking and how telecommunications work. Next, we visited the Newseum which is a museum of news happenings in America, such as the 911 attacks. There we saw huge wreckage from the NYC Twin Towers.  Later, we went by bus to Mount Vernon the home of President George Washington. I also got to see the Washington Family burial crypt. That night we had our farewell dinner and dance and said our goodbyes to the friends we made from all over to country.

I returned to Bemidji on Wednesday about noon and visited with my parents, brother and grandparents over lunch. It felt good to sleep in my own bed again that night. I was most impressed by the National Monuments, the Capitol Building, the people I met, and friendships made. 

This was an experience I will never forget, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I would encourage anyone who is able to visit our nation’s capital. We have much to be grateful for.

I want to thank Garden Valley Technologies for selecting me to participate in this trip.

Garden Valley sends Jelle to our nation’s capital

Written by Grygla Eagle Newspaper, June 2019

Two high school students, age 16 or 17, who receive ser¬vices from Garden Valley, were eligible to win this all-expens¬es-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the FRS Youth Tour.

Layla Jelle was among the chosen. She will be a senior at Grygla High School in the fall, and is the daughter of Mike and Shonda Jelle.

The FRS Youth Tour began on the afternoon of Saturday, June 1st. After the group of about 120 kids arrived and got settled in, the evening included a buffer dinner, a review of the youth tour and an orientation on the daily activities to come. Jelle was assigned to room with another young lady from Georgia during her stay and says she got to meet a lot of people from all over the United States on this trip.

Sunday, June 2nd, was a full day for the group. It included a tour of Arlington National Cemetery, a visit to the Smithsonian Museum, a night tour of D.C., including stops at the White House and the WWII, Vietnam & Korean War Memorials, and also the Lin-coln Monument.

Monday, June 3rd, started out with an Educational Session: “A Visit to the Hill.” Sightseeing time was at the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court. The afternoon tour stops were at the Jefferson, FDR & Martin Luther King Memorials. After bowling and dinner that evening, an FRS breakout session was held on Rural America.

Tuesday, June 4th, started out with another Educational Session: “A Visit to the FCC.” Along with a tour of the Newseum, the group also toured Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. A farewell dinner and dance was held this evening before the group departed for home on Wednesday, June 5th.

Of her experience, Layla says, “Before attending this trip, I really didn’t know what to expect, but let me tell you, it was the best experience I’ve ever had!” She added, I’m so appreciative of Garden Valley for giving me this opportunity and FRS for making it all possible!”