By Allison Peck
The Nebraska Agriculture Academy claimed the championship title at the 34th annual Nebraska State Envirothon, earning the opportunity to represent the state at an international environmental competition later this summer.
The event was held April 29 at the Prairie Loft Center for Agriculture and Outdoor Learning near Hastings, where high school teams from across Nebraska competed in a series of natural resource challenges.
The winning team, made up of Emily Brhel of Fairfield, Ivy Chipperfield of McCook, Charlie Knoetzel of Wauneta, Jarrett Miihlbach of Taylor, and Abigail Schauer of North Loup, also received a $1,500 prize. The Nebraska Agriculture Academy is an online agriculture education program that also provides in-person FFA contest opportunities for homeschooled students.
Envirothon is a hands-on environmental education competition that tests students’ knowledge in aquatics, forestry, range, soils and wildlife. Teams also present solutions to real-world environmental issues. This year’s theme focused on reducing non-point source pollution and challenged students to develop plans addressing runoff within a watershed.
A total of 14 teams advanced to the state competition after more than 60 teams competed in regional contests earlier this year. Dawson County Envirothon Club placed second, earning $1,000, while Concordia Lutheran of Omaha took third and received $500.
Additional top honors were awarded in individual categories, with Omaha Central earning top scores in aquatics and soils, Dawson County leading in forestry and oral presentation, Sidney Team 1 taking the range category, and Nebraska Agriculture Academy finishing first in wildlife.
The Nebraska Agriculture Academy will now advance to the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon, scheduled for July 19 through 25 at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. The competition will feature nearly 50 teams from across the United States as well as Canada, China and Singapore, with a top prize of $15,000.
The Envirothon program is coordinated in Nebraska by the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, which works with the state’s Natural Resources Districts to promote conservation education and stewardship of Nebraska’s natural resources.