Kansas KidWind Challenge Begins with Record Teams

2026

Published February 9th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension have announced the start of the 2026 Kansas KidWind Challenge, featuring a record 110 teams from 38 schools. This STEM education event encourages students to design, build, and test wind turbine designs.

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What changed

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has announced the commencement of the 2026 Kansas KidWind Challenge, a STEM education initiative in partnership with K-State Engineering Extension and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. This year's challenge has set a record with 110 teams from 38 schools participating, surpassing the previous record of 94 teams in 2023. The event involves students designing, building, and testing wind turbines, with regional competitions held throughout February and culminating in state finals in April.

This notice serves as an informational announcement regarding the KidWind Challenge. Regulated entities are not directly impacted by this event, as it is an educational program. However, it highlights the KCC's engagement in promoting renewable energy education and STEM fields within the state. No specific compliance actions or deadlines are imposed on regulated entities by this announcement.

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News Release

For more information contact: Linda Berry, KCC Director of Public Affairs (785) 271-3269

February 9, 2026

The KidWind Challenge begins this week with a record number of teams

TOPEKA – The 2026 Kansas KidWind Challenge is expected to be record breaking. This year, 110 teams representing 38 schools from across the state are registered to compete, breaking the previous record of 94 teams in 2023.

The first regional challenge will be held in Dodge City on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Five more regional events are scheduled throughout the month in Colby (Feb. 12), Hutchinson (Feb. 17), Overland Park (Feb. 19), Manhattan (Feb. 25), and Burlington (Feb. 27). All events are open to the public and free to attend. The 2026 KidWind Event Guide, complete with times and locations, is available here.

Student teams work together to design, build and test a wind turbine using the materials of their choice. Each team’s turbine will be put to the test in a wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.5-5 m/s (meters per second). Scoring is based on turbine performance, a knowledge quiz, a presentation to judges where the team explains its design process, and an instant challenge.

Students compete by age categories: 4 th – 5 th grade, 6 th – 8 th grade and 9 th – 12 th grade. The winning teams at regional events advance to the state finals on April 11 in Salina. State winners are invited to participate in the World KidWind Challenge in Madison, WI from May 18-21.

“KidWind is a fantastic hands-on opportunity that allows students to tinker and experiment with wind turbine designs. They experience the thrill of scientific discovery as their designs are validated through performance testing, and they hone their public speaking skills as they present their turbine design to a panel of judges,” explained David Carter, Director of the Kansas Energy Program at K-State Engineering Extension.

Kansas KidWind is an energy-related STEM education event from the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

More information about KidWind is available at https://www.kcc.ks.gov/energy-education/kidwind.