
DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997                TAG: 9704110283

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

QUESTIONS ON SOIL, PESTICIDES, WATER ARE ACADEMIC STUFF OF ENVIRONTHON

On a perfect spring day butterflies flitted among the cedar trees surrounding Lone Star Lodge while inside the lodge 20 high school students subdued their own nervous butterflies, stepped before a panel of judges and spoke impressively about pesticides.

A concern for the environment and a chance to pit their knowledge of nature and science against teams from other high schools lured the teens to compete in the sixth annual Envirothon sponsored by the Peanut Soil and Water Conservation District.

Teams from Isle of Wight Academy, Surry, Lakeland, and Nansemond River High Schools spent the day taking tests in forestry, aquatics, soil analysis, wildlife and current environmental issues which this year focused on pesticides.

Standing around a hole in a field, discussing soil texture and consistency, might seem an unusual way to start the school day, but for these teens, many of whom come from farming families, it was a glimpse into the real world of environmental work.

``This program blends science, agriculture, and ecology and is just about as practical as you can get,'' Amy Herrmann said. Herrmann, an earth science teacher at Lakeland High, coaches the Lakeland Envirothon team along with agriculture teacher Ronald Daughtrey. Experts in each field set up the test sites and spend time with each team, giving and evaluating the tests they have designed specifically for the competition.

The tests are not easy. Bob Goerger, extension agent for Isle of Wight County, structured his test on pesticides from the licensing exam farmers must pass to be certified to work with restricted pesticides.

After a morning of hands on and paper and pencil tests, it was time for what the teams considered the toughest trial of the day - the team presentation on pesticides. ``Getting up in front of everyone is hard,'' Jodi Seward , from Surry High School, said.

Competing for the first year, the team from Surry was not quite sure what to expect. ``I am proud of them for just deciding to compete,'' Harriett Smith, their coach, said.

Even the Lakeland team members, who had won the local Envirothon the last two years, were a little on edge. ``The competition seems a lot tougher this year,'' Melissa Hale said. Melissa, a Lakeland junior, was competing for the third year.

``But this is really a team effort and easier to do than if you had to do it alone,'' Rebecca Collett, a Lakeland freshman and team alternate, added.

After each team presented their pesticide program, the judges took turns asking questions, including one that stumped almost everyone. ``Is a fungicide a pesticide?''

Lots of head scratching and team caucuses produced a variety of answers with the most ingenious one coming from Lakeland senior Jarvis Howell.

``Considering that a fungus is an unwanted pest, the answer is yes,'' he ad libbed correctly.

With a handful of blue ribbons, Angela Douglas, Peanut Soil and Water Conservation District director and education coordinator, announced the winners in each category and surprised the Surry team with a first place in the forestry category.

Lakeland High School was again the event's overall winner and will go on to compete in the state competition near Charlottesville in May.

A win there could send the team to the national Envirothon.

The Virginia Envirothon began in 1993 on the Eastern Shore and by 1996 the annual competition drew 26 district teams, including Lakeland, to the state competiton. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II

Nansemond River High environthon team member Rob Barnhill, left, and

Sam Ely work on a question with another team member.

Graphic

Lakeland High School: Melissa Hale, Jarvis Howell, Wayne Mills,

Jeremy Neblett, Adam Parker. Alternates: Joe Brown, Rebecca Collett,

Aaron Landry. Coaches: Amy Herrmann, Ronald Daughtrey.

Isle of Wight Academy: Joseph Whitley, Abbey Delk, Judson Little,

Jeremy Johnson, Tiffany James. Alternates: Jessica Delk, Laura

Hebert. Coach: Cassy Peffley.

Nansemond River High School: Sam Ely, Lateef Rasberry, Robert

Barnhill, Shannon Stanley, Joseph Filanowicz. Alternates: Chris

Esch, Romie Williams. Coach: Jinger Eberwine.