Bainville Students Earn Writing Honors

Prairie Public announces 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 sta along with a panel of local teachers and librarians. First place, second place and third place winners were selected in each grade level.

Two of the award winners were from Bainville.

Carter Buxbaum earned first place in the kindergarten division for his entry, “The American Farmer.’

Aubrey Buxbaum took first place in the second-grade division for her entry, “Celebrating America in My Small Town.”

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.

For more information and to read the winning stories, visit prairiepublic.org/writerscontest