Decorah High School Envirothon Team Wins Fourth Straight State Title, Advances to International Competition

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. Five students from Decorah High School placed first at the Iowa State Envirothon Competition on April 27 at the Jasper Park Nature Center, earning the opportunity to represent Iowa at the International Envirothon Competition scheduled for July 19-25 in Starkville, Mississippi. This year's Envirothon theme, "Nonpoint Source Pollution: It Begins at Home," challenged students to examine how pollution originates from diffuse sources—such as runoff from agricultural fields and urban streets during rain events—and how it affects water quality. Because nonpoint source pollution does not come from a single identifiable location, it presents unique challenges for monitoring and prevention. The win marks Decorah's fourth consecutive state Envirothon championship. The first-place team included Thatcher Brown, Thomas Davis, Jack Hammel, Atticus Raabe and Oskar Swanson. Decorah also placed second overall. Team members included Reid Berns, Riley Berns, Carson Bohner, Oliver Bollinger and Kyle Pattison. "I cannot adequately express how much I enjoy working with the Envirothon students," said shared Larry Berland, Envirothon Coach. "The number of participants and their results reflect a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. Living in this community is advantageous for these students because so many parents and residents model excellent care for their surroundings. Their success is a direct result of the support from administrators, teachers and community partners," A statement also thanked Barbara Schroeder and the Winneshiek County Conservation Board for their continued support of the Envirothon program. Your inbox, upgraded! Subscribe for free and enjoy handpicked stories, helpful advice, and local insights delivered weekly.