URBANDALE, Iowa - Fifteen schools from around the state competed at this year’s Iowa Envirothon Competition at Springbrook State Park near Guthrie Center on April 21.

Students at this year’s Iowa competition were tested on their knowledge in the areas of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and wildlife. There was also an oral presentation discussing recreational impacts on natural resources. The teams were scored at each station and the totals were added to decide a winner.

Marshalltown High School placed first and will be competing at Nationals at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., July 28- August 3. Along with the title, each team member received a $500 scholarship from Iowa State University.

The Decorah Propaganda Pandas from Decorah High School placed second with Orient-Macksburg coming in third and another Decorah team taking fourth. Envirothon challenges students to use their knowledge and critical thinking skills to conduct hands-on investigations, solve real-life scenarios and answer written questions covering the five categories.

In the individual categories, Marshalltown received the most points for their oral presentation, aquatics, soils and wildlife. Decorah Propaganda Pandas tied for first in aquatics with Marshalltown and received the highest points for forestry.

The Iowa Envirothon is a program of the Conservation Districts of Iowa in cooperation with: Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation, Iowa FFA Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Iowa State University, Canon USA, Inc., and many local soil and water conservation districts.