Photo Courtesy Pioneer PBS
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — October 19, 2026 — Pioneer PBS received three Upper Midwest Emmy® Awards Saturday evening for locally produced programming, recognizing the station’s storytelling in the arts, history and culture, military history, and outdoor recreation. The awards were presented during the 2026 Upper Midwest Emmy Awards ceremony hosted by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Upper Midwest Chapter.
Pioneer PBS’s locally produced Postcards earned two awards, including an Emmy in the Arts/Entertainment – Long Form Content category for From Twin Peaks to Two Harbors with Artist Michael Horse. The story, from Season 17 of Postcards, follows artist Michael Horse as he explores the connections between his work, his Native heritage and the landscapes that have influenced him.
“I am beyond thrilled that From Twin Peaks to Two Harbors with Artist Michael Horse won an Emmy!” said Producer Susan Marks. “It was very much a collaborative effort. It was just an honor to help tell Michael Horse and his wife, Pennie Opal Plant’s story.”
The Emmy for From Twin Peaks to Two Harbors with Artist Michael Horse was awarded to Producer Susan Marks, Cinematographer Matt Ehling, Executive Producer Sherece Lamke and Motion Graphics Artist Kristofor Gieske.
The Postcards story A Town’s Tribute to Fallen Veterans also received an Emmy in the Military – Short or Long Form Content category. The story highlights a community’s efforts to honor local veterans and preserve the memory of those who gave their lives in service.
Prairie Sportsman: The Lab at the Falls, Season 17, Episode 12, received an Emmy in the Historical/Cultural/Nostalgia – Long Form Content category. The program explores the work taking place at the University of Minnesota’s Outdoor Lab at the Falls, highlighting research, conservation and the people working to better understand and protect Minnesota’s natural resources.
"It was a thrill to have the Prairie Sportsman team recognized with an Upper Midwest Emmy for our segment "The Lab at the Falls," said Producer Thomas Desch. "The piece highlights the history and evolution of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. During production we were able to meet and speak with researchers doing such amazing work and felt so fortunate to be able to help share their stories with a larger audience."
Prairie Sportsman: The Lab at the Falls was produced by Thomas Desch, with Bret Amundson as host and Jaryd Smith and Dan Amundson as videographers.
The three awards bring Pioneer PBS’s total to 38 Upper Midwest Emmy Awards for locally produced programming since 2013, continuing the station’s 14-year run of recognition from the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
In addition to Pioneer PBS’s three locally produced wins, three other Emmy Awards were associated with programs that aired on Pioneer PBS. My Town received awards recognizing its host and editor, while the documentary Broken Eyes received an Emmy in the Documentary – Topical category.
Pioneer PBS is a nonprofit regional public media organization based in Granite Falls, Minnesota, serving rural communities throughout the region for more than six decades. Through television, streaming, digital platforms, educational resources and community engagement, Pioneer PBS connects people with stories that inform, inspire and strengthen communities.
Watch all of Pioneer PBS’s nominated stories, past and present, online at pioneer.org/emmys.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota with the world. Pioneer PBS is headquartered in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with towers in Appleton, Worthington, and Fergus Falls. Pioneer PBS reaches more than a million people in rural areas and small towns in western Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas, and northern Iowa. Pioneer PBS is honored to be your television station—the only station in western Minnesota telling your stories and raising your voices into the media landscape. Our members help make programs like this possible with their generous support. For more information about Pioneer PBS or how you can help us make these stories a reality, visit pioneer.org/donate or call 800-726-3178.
About Postcards
Postcards is an award-winning art, culture, and history program. It is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The 2026 season is made possible by funding from Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism, Lake Region Arts Council, West Central Initiative, Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Prairie Sportsman
Prairie Sportsman is an Emmy-awarded series that celebrates the love of the outdoors by featuring topics on hunting, fishing, and recreation while promoting environmental stewardship. The 2026 season is made possible by funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Shalom Hill Farm, Big Stone County, Yellow Medicine County, Lac qui Parle County, Meeker County, Swift County, and members of Pioneer PBS. If you enjoy Prairie Sportsman, become a friend of Prairie Sportsman by filling out a Google Form.
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