Join the 5th Annual Youth 'Dream Rig' Contest: Share Your Vision and Win Big!

The Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest is back for its 5th year, and it’s time for young ham radio fans to show off their passion and ideas.

Hosted by The Intrepid-DX Group, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting amateur radio worldwide, this contest aims to hear from young voices in the hobby. They believe that including youth is key to keeping the spirit of amateur radio alive and growing.

To enter, you need to be a licensed ham radio operator, 19 or younger, living in the U.S. (including territories) or Canada. This year’s question is all about the impact of ham radio: “What role do you think ham radio plays in society? How can it benefit our communities, and how can it be made more exciting for people your age?” Your response should be a two-page essay.

Send your essay as a plain text file, PDF, or MS Word attachment to intrepiddxgroup@gmail.com, or mail it to The Intrepid-DX Group, 3052 Wetmore Dr, San Jose, CA 95148, USA. Just make sure it’s postmarked by November 30, 2024.

If you entered the contest before, no worries—you’re welcome to give it another shot this year as long as you meet the entry rules.

And now, for the prizes! First place wins an ICOM IC-7300 transceiver, second place takes home an ICOM ID5100AD dual-band mobile radio with D-Star, and third place gets an ICOM IC-T10 dual-band handheld. Winners must agree to keep and use their radios on the air for a year, without selling or trading them.

This is your chance to share your thoughts and maybe even win a dream rig—good luck!