Prescott's' Tri-City Prep Wins 2014 Arizona Envirothon

Nine teams of high school students from around the state tested their environmental field skills March 21-22 at the University of Arizona’s research farm, the Maricopa Agricultural Center in the Town of Maricopa. 

Prescott’s Tri-City College Prep High School students developed the winning sustainable agriculture model to capture the 2014 Arizona Envirothon championship on Saturday.  Each student on the winning five-member team earned a $500 scholarship; their coach was also award a $500 stipend.

Sustainable agriculture practices consider a farming operation’s economic viability, its environmental effects, and its social acceptability.  Prep’s winning farm plan addressed economics, agricultural technology, water management, dust control, crop selection, local marketing, and neighbor relations.

Tri-City Prep team captain Jacob Holivar has participated in the Envirothon each of his four high school years. “I most enjoy the different topics each year.  We’ve looked at [the environment] from a farming, recreation, ranching and even a housing development perspective,” said Holivar.  “It’s never dull.”

Second place over-all went to Center for Research in Engineering, Science & Technology at Paradise Valley High School (CREST) (PVUSD) and Centennial High School (PeoriaUSD) placed third.

Pam Justice, Arizona Project WET program coordinator, has been an active member of the Arizona Envirothon Executive Committee since 2003.  “This was one of the brightest and most engaged groups of young people we’ve had in recent years," Justice said. "The future of our world is in good hands!”