Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services is sponsoring a student competition for an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services’ Fourth Annual Youth Tour Competition is now accepting applications from 11th graders living in the FMCS service area.

Eligible students are to write a 500-word essay answering, “If you were a policy maker in Washington, D.C., what one thing would you want in an energy policy and why?” A panel of outside judges has been selected and will review the essays and completed application forms.

Participants and family members will be invited to attend a banquet in March where they will meet with the judges. Two winners will be announced that evening.

Cooperatives throughout the United States participate in the event, and the local winners will join their counterparts from coast-to-coast in Washington, D.C. from June 11 to 16, 2011.

Deadline to submit an entry is March 9, 2011. Applicants must be members of Freeborn-Mower Cooperative services.

For application packet and details regarding this contest, students and/or parents may contact Mary Nelson at FMCS 507-373-6421 or mnelson@fmcs.coop. Applications can also be found at www.fmcs.coop.